October 1, 1960 – June 27, 2026
Anne Ellington Powell, known affectionately as “Dee” by her children, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, June 27, 2026 in the loving arms of her daughter Helen.
She spent her final day exactly as she would have wanted – wrapped in the love, laughter, hugs, and kisses of her beloved grandchildren, with her devoted family by her side.
Born on October 1, 1960, at Duke Hospital, Anne was the first of four children born to Helen Arendell Ellington and Dr. Robert Norwood Ellington. She moved to Burlington in 1963, where she was raised and educated in the Burlington public schools before attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She graduated from the Kenan-Flagler Business School in 1982 with a degree in Business Administration and began her career with Procter & Gamble as a sales representative in Wilmington.
On October 20, 1984, she married the love of her life, Dr. James Bobbitt Powell. Together they built a beautiful life centered on faith, family, friendship, generosity and unconditional love. After enduring the devastating loss of their beloved toddler son Jimmy to a brain tumor, Anne and Jim went on to welcome three more children, whom she loved with every fiber of her being. The strength, faith, and compassion forged through that season of unimaginable grief became defining hallmarks of the way she lived and loved for the rest of her life.
While Dee enjoyed a successful career and faithfully served her community, those accomplishments never defined her. Love did. To know Dee was to feel loved.
She was radiant inside and out. Known for her iconic auburn hair and unforgettable smile, Dee was a force of nature who made the world brighter. Her beauty was undeniable, but it was the warmth of her heart and the way she loved people that made her truly unforgettable.
She had an extraordinary gift for making everyone feel seen, welcomed, celebrated, and important. Whether she had known someone for thirty years or thirty minutes, she made them feel like an old friend. She never met a stranger. She remembered birthdays, celebrated every milestone, gathered people around her table and somehow always found time for one more phone call, one more visit, or one more act of kindness.
For three years, she joyfully opened her home every Thursday evening to host pregame dinners for the Williams High School offense, feeding not only growing athletes but creating a sense of family, encouragement, and belonging they never forgot.
Her friendships were lifelong and abundant, a reflection of the investment she made in people. She had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel like they were her favorite.
Of all the roles Dee cherished, none meant more than being “Mom” and “DeeDee.” She loved her children with unwavering devotion and constant presence. She was the mother who called just to check in. The one whose voicemail always began, “Hey, it’s me…” and ended with “Love you sooo so.” The one who showed up before anyone asked, insisted on spending the night with a new baby, planned a fun spontaneous trip, checked in when someone was sick, celebrated every accomplishment, and carried every burden alongside those she loved. As her children grew older, she became not only their mother but also one of their best friends – a rare and extraordinary gift. Nobody loved quite like Dee.
Nothing compared to becoming “DeeDee” to her five (soon six) grandchildren. Nothing brought her greater happiness than being surrounded by her grandbabies who adored their Dee beyond measure.
Dee believed life was meant to be celebrated. She loved the beach, the lake, the mountains, power walks, skiing, biking, tennis, traveling, and creating unforgettable memories with the people she loved. She generously shared her time and talents through the Elon University Board of Trustees, UNC-Chapel Hill Parents Council, Princeton University Parents Council, the Duke Brain Tumor Foundation and countless philanthropic endeavors throughout her life.
In May 2021, Dee suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm that forever changed the course of her life. Although her physical abilities changed dramatically, the essence of who she was never disappeared. Dee continued to dance even when the doctors said the music had stopped.
Nearly every weekend over the next five years, she visited her children and grandchildren in their homes, continuing family traditions she cherished most. She also enjoyed several more vacations to the family’s beach house in Morehead City. Though those visits and trips looked different than they once had, her presence, her smile, and her love remained the heartbeat of every gathering.
Her family continued to know her through her beautiful smile, warm embraces, hand squeezes and unmistakable expressions of love. She taught everyone around her profound lessons about resilience, dignity, grace and the enduring power of unconditional love. Her home remained filled with family, friends, music, celebrations and grandbabies climbing into bed beside her.
Her family was profoundly blessed by an extraordinary circle of helpers and caregivers whose compassion, dedication, and love became woven into the fabric of their family. Their faithful presence made it possible for Dee to remain in the home she loved, surrounded by the people she loved even more. The Powell family extends their deepest gratitude to Gary Gusler, Pam Parker, Jessica Knox, LeeAnn Watlington, Phyllis Davis, Kelsie Williams, Pam Smith, Amy Walton, Riley Foxworth, and Nasreldin Abdalla, and professionals from AuthoraCare whose exceptional care blessed Dee and the entire family.
Dee’s legacy also lives on through “DeeTox,” the dermatology, aesthetics, and wellness practice founded by her daughter, Dr. Helen Bode, in her honor. Every patient is welcomed with compassion and every relationship built on trust, to reflect the woman whose name and spirit continue to inspire its mission.
Anne was preceded in death by her beloved son, James “Jimmy” Bobbitt Powell Jr.; her father, Dr. Robert “Bubba” Norwood Ellington; and her sister-in-law, Alison Westmoreland Ellington.
She is survived by her devoted husband of more than forty-one years, Dr. James Bobbitt Powell; her mother, Helen Arendell Ellington; her brothers, Robert Norwood Ellington Jr. and Dr. Kenneth Scott Ellington (Linda); her sister, Ruth Helen Ellington; her son, John Banks Powell (Samantha) and their daughters, Maeve Eileen and Clara Banks; her son, Dr. James Rosser Powell; her daughter, Dr. Helen Powell Bode (Paul) and their children, Anne Arendell, John Bridges, and Mary Ellington; her stepdaughter, Daphne Powell Markcrow (Craig) and their children, Anna and Henry; along with countless nieces, nephews, cousins, treasured friends, and all those fortunate enough to have experienced Dee’s remarkable love.
Those who knew Dee will remember her auburn hair, pearly white smile, silliness, spontaneity, generosity, adventurous spirit, unwavering optimism, and extraordinary capacity to love. She left every place brighter than she found it and every person better for having known her. But above all, they will remember how she made them feel. There is no greater legacy than that.
A Celebration of Dee’s life will be held at Front Street United Methodist Church in Burlington on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. A private family burial will precede the service, and the family will receive friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Duke’s Tisch Brain Tumor Center (Duke University Medical Center, DUMC 3624, Durham, NC 27710), Elon University Tennis Program (CB #2615, Elon, NC 27244), or the Brain Aneurysm Foundation (269 Hanover Street, Building #3 Hanover, MA 02339).
