Mrs. Yvette Davis Powell

Yvette Davis-Powell was born on January 10, 1963 in the Bronx, New York from the union of the late Ronald and Imogene (Williams) Davis and departed this life on October 9, 2017 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

She grew up in Harlem, New York under the care of her loving parents.  As a child, she spent most of her summers with her grandmother Ethel in Newberry County, South Carolina.  She attended public school in New York City where she excelled in all subjects.  At an early age, she had keen interests in music, entertainment and hospitality. 

In 1981, she graduated from the New York School of Music and Art where she followed her passion and developed her craft.  After graduating high school, she worked part-time at the world-famous Apollo Theater while furthering her studies at Baruch College in NYC where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Management.

At the same time, she was in the recording studio working with well-known and established music producers in New York.  Her charm, talent and efforts afforded her the opportunity to be lead vocalist for R&B group, Caprice, which in 1986 had the chart-topping urban dance hit, “100 Percent”.

Not relying on the instability of the music business, she continued to work at the Apollo Theater and in the hotel and tourism industry.  Eventually, Yvette would return to school earn a Masters Degree in Elementary Education.  She earned her teacher’s certification and became an elementary school educator for the NYC Department of Education, giving them nearly two decades of service.

She also served as Deaconess under the leadership of Rev. James W. Shepherd at Manhattan Baptist Church in NYC.  She was the first appointed deaconess in the church’s history. 

In 1996, Yvette married Anthony Powell of Yonkers, NY.  From that union, their daughter, Nia, was born in 1998.

More importantly than Yvette’s accomplishments were her relationships with people, which was evidence of her relationship to God.

Loved, admired, and appreciated by so many, Yvette is survived by her daughter - Nia Davis-Powell of Harrisburg, NC; one sister - Pamela Barreto of Harrisburg, NC; aunts and uncles - Annette & Malverse Lane of Pomaria, SC,  Foster & Eva Williams of Irmo, SC, Raphael & Pat Davis of Tampa, FL, Carol Davis of Roosevelt, NY, Stanley & Pamela Williams of Bronx, NY,  Charles Pearson of Brooklyn, NY; one step-daughter - Shevohn Powell of NYC; two nephews - Darren Noah Barreto and Joshua Barreto of Harrisburg, NC; one brother-in-law - Darren A. Barreto of Harrisburg, NC, along with a great host of cousins, relatives, sympathizing friends and colleagues.   

Funeral service will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Sunday, October 15, 2017 at Saint Mark A.M.E. Church in Pomaria, SC. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. 

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