Winifred Jones Powell was born December 21, 1952, to the late Willie Jones and Johnnie Mae Symonette in Miami, Florida. Winifred was the oldest child.

 

Winifred grew up in Miami, attended Miami Dade County public schools, and later graduated from Miami Northwestern Senior High School in 1970. After high school, she held several jobs including working at Fountainhead Nursing Home and Richardson’s Department Store. However, her favorite job was the one that earned her the title “The Fly Girl”: flight attendant with Pan American Airways. “Winnie”, as she was affectionately known, loved that job and it afforded her the opportunity to see the world. Her travels were evident by her souvenir of choice from every city she visited, her plate collection. Every plate had a story and she was always willing to share them with you. She then shifted her focus to her most memorable role as MOM. 

 

Family was important to Winnie, and family gatherings will never be the same without her smile, her energy, and presence on the dance floor. Winnie will be greatly missed and forever loved.

 

After a long battle, Winnie took her final rest on July 21, 2024. Winnie was preceded in death by her younger siblings, Gail Symonette, Carl Jones, and Cynthia Jones.

 

She leaves to cherish her memory: her children, Richard Powell II, Vincent Powell, and Venetia (Amos) Saunders; grandchildren, De’Andre Powell, Rickeya Powell, Jason Powell, Azeneth Powell, and Santana Powell; one great-grandson, Da’Mir Pierre; brothers, Charles (Louvenia) Symonette, Bruce Symonette, Sr., Anthony Jones, and Tyrone (Khmari) Jones; one sister, Gwendolyn Jones; aunts, Barbara Atkins, Eloise Dezmal, Mary McKinney, and Catherine Moore; uncle, Charles McKinney; godchildren, Sharell Clark and David Berrian; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.