Nancy L. Powell

Daughter. Wife. Nancy Sue. Nan. Mom. Momma. Mah. Nana.

Nancy Sue Lingo Powell, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away in her sleep in the early hours of August 12, 2026 - about an hour after her 80th birthday - after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Born in Nassawadox, VA, on August 11, 1946, to William Burleigh and Naomi Elizabeth (Carpenter), Nancy grew up on the Eastern Shore of VA (Cape Charles), a small residential fishing and farming town, as an only child, but with family in the Duplex to the left.

Nancy graduated from Cape Charles High School as the Valedictorian and went to Smithdeal-Massey Business College, a prominent private business school in Richmond, Virginia, for her accounting degree. Her plans were slightly interrupted by Thomas (Tom) Purnell Powell’s arrival in Cape Charles on leave from his Coast Guard duty station in Portsmouth, Va., during the Summer of ‘65. Nancy’s grandmother saw Tom walking in town, and told her, “He’s the one”. She was right! They became a family, and Nancy became a mom to Tommy (Jr, 4 yrs old) on December 29, 1965. Nancy finished school and learned on the fly how to be a mom, all while juggling life as a Coast Guard wife. During this time, Nancy was employed by the Bondfire private Club in Portsmouth as their bookkeeper.

They moved from VA to Key West (welcome Beth) to Governors Island (NYC) and finally settled down in Pasadena, MD in 1974 (welcome Andrew). Nancy continued to work in accounting and administrative positions, including working on Wall Street in Aristotle Onassis’ Office while in NY. In 1985, she joined Harbor Hospital Center as a part-time assistant in Community Relations. Her acumen and people skills accelerated her trajectory at Harbor, and she became Assistant Vice President for Community and Fund Development in the early 1990s. She managed the operational and financial business metrics alongside the executive leadership team, as well as throwing the hospital's amazing Galas and organizing the highly anticipated annual employees' picnic. Nancy was tapped to develop the hospital's LifeResource Center and became the Administrator and Chief Operating Officer in the early 2000s. Her proudest work experience was empowering the community around Harbor through the work she and her co-workers engendered through the LifeResource Center and Parish Nurse Program. In the last years of her tenure at Harbor, she was the President of the Northern Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce. She remained with Harbor until her retirement in 2005.

Nancy will be remembered by those she worked with for her generosity of spirit, work ethic, and ability to make you feel seen. She thrived at Harbor but always made time for her family. Nancy was beautiful inside and out, stubborn as a mule, but quick with a snort and a hug. She was a wonderful seamstress and loved reading, music (Elvis, Queen, Jan & Dean), had a mild obsession with JFK, loved driving fast in her 3000GT, relaxing in the sun on the beach, boating around the islands in Key West, teaching the grandkids to swim, and traveling with Tom. They spent 60 years loving and supporting each other while raising three perfect children whom she was inordinately proud of. Nancy was a hands-on mom, field trips, PTAs, knew how to review a paper or report (red pen in hand), and always answered the phone, ready to listen and give advice, or hold a grudge on your behalf. And, boy, did she love her grandbabies.

Even though Alzheimer’s robbed her of her memories, and maybe our names, in these last few years, she was quick with a smile, and you could see in her eyes she KNEW you when she said, "Hi, Sweetheart”.

Nancy is survived by her loving husband, Tom, their children: Tom Powell Jr (spouse Carrie), Beth Brittan-Powell (spouse Chris), and Andrew Powell (spouse Jessica), and their grandchildren: Alicia (Tom), Jack, Sean, and Henry (Beth), Avery, Adeyln, and Andi (Andrew).

The Powell Family would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Mesame Epie, Mom’s caregiver since December 2023. Because of Mesame, Mom was able to stay at home and receive amazing care. Thank you, Mesame! We also appreciate the Hospice Nurses of Hospice of the Chesapeake, who have worked with Mom since March 2025.

A Memorial Service will be held on August 29th at McCully Polyniak & Collins Funeral Home, P.A. (3204 Mountain Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122), with a fellowship gathering starting at 1 and the service starting at 3:30. The family will receive friends after the service at their home in Pasadena from 5-7 (559 Pheasant Court, Pasadena).

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer's Association : https://Alzheimer's Association .