Lacy Powell, 87, educator survived being a POW in WWII

Lacy Powell never talked much about being a World War II prisoner of war. The majority of people who knew the Clayton County educator had no clue he’d been shot down over Hungary, then held nine months by the Germans.

One year someone asked Dr. Powell if he would share his war story with others. He began giving talks to organizations in the community. He’d show those in attendance the Bible he carried with him throughout the war. It’s covered with a faded green cloth — material cut from his POW uniform. He showed them the lock and key from his prison cell.

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Lacy Powell, 87, who was a WWII veteran and Clayton County principal, died Friday.

“I think the talks became a sort of healing for him,” said his daughter, Cheryl Powell Allen of Newnan. “He remembers everything. I have six legal pads written by him about his experience. He was a remarkable man and he had a remarkable story to tell.”

Dr. Lacy D. Powell, 87, of Fayetteville, formerly of Jonesboro, died Friday of congestive heart failure at home. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Fayetteville chapel of Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home. His war Bible will be used for the service. A military graveside service will follow at Sherwood Memorial Gardens in Jonesboro.

Dr. Powell served in World War II with the Army Air Corps. He flew nearly 40 missions over the European arena before his B-24 Liberator bomber was shot down over Budapest, Hungary. For nine months in 1944-1945, he was held captive. At one point, he was forced to walk more than 50 days from Poland through Austria and into Germany.

“He actually walked the socks off his feet,” his daughter said. “When he got to where they were going, there was only the elastic around the top.”

Dr. Powell escaped from prison twice, but was recaptured. He and other soldiers were liberated in April 1945.

In 2001, he told members of the Atlanta-area Retired Eastern Pilots Association about being shot out of the sky:

“Messerschmitts [German fighter planes] were hiding in the clouds,” he told the group, “and as each of us broke out, we were fired on. … There was nothing to do but get out, so I grabbed a chest pack, threw it on and jumped.”

Dr. Powell was born in Arkansas, where his father was a sharecropper. One of seven siblings, he’s the only one with a college degree. In 1954, he came to Clayton County and started work in the public schools. He served as a teacher, principal and administrator before retiring in 1987.

He enjoyed growing vegetables, woodworking and baking. He’d make about 30 cakes during the holidays for gifts. He jogged well into his 70s.

Other survivors include his wife, Mary Blackwood Powell of Fayetteville; a son, Greg Powell of Fayetteville; a brother, James Paul Powell of Union City; and four grandchildren.