Carol J. Gambill Powell, age 70, of Erie, passed away after a brief illness on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at the Golden Living Center Western Reserve.

She was born April 6, 1942 in Max Meadows, Va., a daughter of the late Samuel P. and Annie Wright Gambill.

Carol graduated from Academy High School, Class of 1960 and then studied nursing at the Helena Fuld School at Morgan State. She also graduated from Province Hospital in Baltimore Md. With the degree she received, she decided to further her education by becoming a certified nurse practitioner in Erie. She worked for many years in Erie at UPMC Hamot, formerly known as Hamot Medical Center, the Martin Luther King Center, Family Planning and Community Health Net.

Over the years, Carol was very involved in the Eastern Star and served faithfully in the church on the Stewardess Board, President of the Saint James Singers, help with the children's choir and Singing Angels. She also worked in the Sunday school and helped with serving breakfast to the homeless.

In addition to her parents Carol was preceded in death by four brothers, Daniel Brown, Samuel Gambill, Clarence Gambill and Joe Gambill; along with a sister, Mary Frances Gambill McIntosh. She is survived by her only child, William (Arby) Powell III; and granddaughters, Jasmine Nicole Powell, Theresa Mendez; along with grandsons, William Powell IV and Quentin Powell all of Erie. Carol also leaves two brothers, Vernon Gambill (Lydia), Harry Gambill (Coral); along with four sisters, Margret Polk (RD), Joyce Watson, Yvonne Moody and Monica Pullium (Lionel) also all of Erie.

Friends may call at the St. James AME Church, 236 East 11th Street, on Saturday from 11 a.m. until the time of the service there at 1 p.m. Reverend Kary Williams will officiate. There will be an Eastern Star ceremony there at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. James AME Church, 236 East 11th Street, Erie, 16503. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Burton Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 602 West 10th Street, Erie, PA 16502. Send condolences at www.Burtonfuneralhome.com.

Published in the Erie Times-News on March 28, 2013.