Clarence C. Powers was a man who valued education, hard work, and dedication, as demonstrated throughout his life and career. His legacy portrays him as a responsible, respected community member and a devoted family man who worked diligently to support his loved ones.

Born on March 19, 1875, in Alabama, Mr. Powers married Rosetta Powers in 1896. By the 1910 U.S. Census, the Powers family was established in west Huntsville, Alabama, where Mr. Powers lived until his passing in 1950. As head of the household, he resided with his wife, Rosetta B. Powers, and their three children: William H. Powers, then 12; Susan R. Powers, 8; and Bernard C. Powers, 7. Clarence owned their home, reflecting the stability he worked hard to provide.

In 1911, Mr. Powers took the federal clerks and carriers’ examination. After passing, he was appointed as a mail carrier in Huntsville by President Woodrow Wilson. From 1917 until his retirement in 1948, Mr. Powers served as a dedicated mail carrier. A 1939 article in The Huntsville Times noted that Mr. Powers was the last mail carrier in Huntsville still delivering by horse and buggy, along with his trusty horse, Annie. The article recounted that Mr. Powers and Annie “travel between 12 and 15 miles twice a day to deliver the mail.” Mr. Powers remarked, “Annie knows her business. She will walk along a street on which I am delivering the mail without any direction. She moves the buggy as I move along from one house to another.” At the time, Annie was 16 years old, having been raised and trained by Mr. Powers himself.

Mr. Powers’ literacy and fluency in English highlight his dedication to education and self-improvement, traits also shared by his wife, Rosetta. Mrs. Powers was a schoolteacher in Madison County for nearly forty years, underscoring the couple’s commitment to education. Mr. Powers also pursued higher education, completing between one and four years of college—a notable accomplishment for an African American man in his era.

On March 4, 1950, Clarence Powers passed away at Huntsville Hospital at the age of 71. His story stands as a testament to his hard work, determination, and success as an African American man who built a stable, prosperous life for his family despite the racial challenges of his time.

1910 Federal Census, Madison County, AL, Ancestry.com.

Huntsville Times, Huntsville, AL, November 30, 1939.

Obituary: Huntsville Times, Huntsville, AL, March 6, 1950.