November 28, 2018–More than 1,000 people attended the funeral of Brock James Powell, 12, who passed away Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. The funeral was held Saturday, Nov. 24 at Cowboy Fellowship. In Brock’s short 12 years, he lived a big life that touched the community of Atascosa County and all who met him.
Before Brock was born on July 2, 2006, to Jay and Gena Powell, he was diagnosed in utero with a serious heart condition, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Just five days after his birth, he had his first open-heart surgery called the Norwood Procedure, which kept him in the hospital for six weeks. 
Five months later, Brock had his second open heart surgery which was called the bi-directional Glenn Procedure. He was released home just in time to celebrate his first Christmas. In May 2012 Brock, age 5, had his third open-heart surgery, and while it was a success a severe staph infection began shutting down his liver and kidneys, and he was placed on a ventilator for six days. During this critical time, community members from Atascosa County and surrounding areas filled the parking lot of Methodist Hospital in San Antonio praying for Brock’s healing and recovery. There was guitar playing, praying and releasing of balloons and Brock’s touch and go condition began to take a turn for the better. Brock was eventually released on his 6th birthday, July 2, 2012 and was treated to a Captain America shield made entirely from cupcakes.
For a boy who was anything but typical, Brock lived the life of a typical small town boy for the next six years. Brock, who in most pictures had a grin from ear to ear, loved to fish, hunt, play basketball, baseball, and golf with his many friends. A quick look through the Pleasanton Express archives tells the story of a child who was making his mark in this world from routinely making the “A” honor roll, to Atascosa Livestock Champion Jr. Showman to Grand Marshal of the Cowboy Homecoming Parade.
Brock shone the brightest when he was showing his pigs, which was a special passion as he was continuing the legacy of Powell Livestock. Brock had personality plus that was evident in nearly every photograph taken of him. His uncle, Josh Powell shared many of these photos on a Facebook tribute to Brock where he stated, “Brock, heaven got a little bit brighter with you today buddy! You have no idea the mark you left on this world and our family. You taught us to keep fighting and never give up hope. I will miss so many things about having you in our lives. The intense basketball and football games in the yard, your huge smile, your big heart, and competitive nature. Most of all, I will miss watching you show pigs. You set the bar high for the rest of us, and we will work our tails off to make you proud. We love you buddy, and thank you for blessing our lives.”
On Monday, November 19 Brock had been cleared to play in his first school basketball game for the Indians where he scored, and his team won. Later that evening while playing with friends, who had just begun Thanksgiving holidays, he was injured in a go-karting accident. He was airlifted from his hometown of Jourdanton to University Hospital in San Antonio, where he died just before 1 a.m. Tuesday.
It is evident the type of impact Brock Powell had in his community as the Jourdanton Little League has created a petition to have a field at the Jourdanton Sports Complex named after Brock. On the Jourdanton Little League Facebook page an ipetition has been started with the following introduction, “Brock was a young man who touched many lives. While his time with us was short, he made sure to make his time count. Although he gave his all to everything he did, many of us will never forget watching him play baseball. In fact, it will be difficult to ever watch a game at the Jourdanton Sports Complex without thinking of him.”
The post urges citizens to help them petition the City of Jourdanton to officially name one of the fields at the Jourdanton Sports Complex the Brock Powell Field. The Jourdanton Little League said that it will attempt to present this petition to the Jourdanton City Council at the December meeting. The post ended with “Help us leave a legacy, the same way Brock left a legacy on us.” To sign this petition, please go to the Jourdanton Little League Facebook page.
Brock is survived by his parents Jay and Gena Powell; brother, Reid Powell; sister, Macy Powell all of Jourdanton; paternal grandparents, Jack and Patti Powell; great-grandmother, Marie Chisum Morris; maternal grandparents, Gerald and Carol Camber; uncles and aunts, Duncan and Sandra McAda, Ben and Trisha McAda, Josh and LeeAnn Powell; cousins, Ashtyn, Logan, Laken, Kaley, Sadie, Jaxson, and Jacob. Brock was preceded in death by his great-grandfather, Carl Morris. Serving as Brock’s pallbearers were Duncan McAda, Ben McAda, Josh Powell, Vance Jupe, Greg Vyvlecka, Andrew Guerra, Tyler Pearson, and Lloyd Chisum.
The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the: Brock Powell Memorial Scholarship Fund, Acct # 22022562, First Commercial Bank, 1301 Oak Street, Jourdanton, Texas 78026 or Mended Little Hearts, San Antonio.
Courtesy of Pleasanton Express
NOEL WILKERSON HOLMES
PUBLISHER
Brock Powell short life with a big impact
