James Gwin "Jim" Powell

James Gwin Powell, known to all as Jim, passed away peacefully on March 11, 2026, at the age of 79 in Jackson, Mississippi. Born on June 6, 1946, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, to Maggie Dee Black Powell and John William Powell, Jr., Jim cherished the small-town life of the 1950s and 1960s in his hometown. A 1964 graduate of Kosciusko High School, he went on to earn a BS degree in Banking and Finance from Mississippi State University, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and served as pledge trainer. It was during these years that he, affectionately called “Chopper,” formed many lifelong friendships he held dear throughout his life.

In 1969, Jim married Dianne Chapman of Kosciusko. The couple began their life together in West Point, Mississippi, where he worked with the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association. In 1972, he became executive director of the Meridian Industrial Foundation, guiding the organization through a period of significant industrial growth in Lauderdale County. His distinguished career in economic development included leadership roles as president of both the Mississippi Economic Development Council and the Southern Economic Development Council, as well as earning the Certified Industrial Developer designation in 1976. After moving to Jackson in 1981, Jim served as economic development director for the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce. He later became a licensed commercial real estate broker and established the James G. Powell Company in 1988. From 1993 to 2013, he served as economic development consultant for the City of Clinton while continuing his brokerage and property management work. In 2010, he was honored with the Southern Economic Development Council’s Honorary Life Member designation.

Jim found great joy in hunting and fishing, and nothing delighted him more than the love of his five grandchildren. A longtime member of First Baptist Church of Jackson, he treasured his time in the Followers Sunday School class. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dianne Chapman Powell; his daughter, Holly Powell Dean (Scott) of Madison; his son, Davis Powell (Meg) of Shreveport, Louisiana; and his beloved grandchildren, Robert Walker Dean, William Chapman Dean, Patrick Scott Dean, Graham Davis Powell, and Anna Grace Powell. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John William Powell III of Memphis, and his sister Margaret Powell Holmes of Kosciusko. Jim also deeply appreciated the special bond he shared with the Dock Atwood family of Kosciusko, who offered him love and care over the years.