Sister Elvia (Elvie) Powell Childress, age 91, of Leitchfield passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at the Grayson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Leitchfield, Kentucky, where she resided for the past ten years.  She was born April 30, 1932, the daughter of Billie and Elizabeth Sanders Powell.  She was united in marriage to Reverend Lonnie Childress on September 13, 1949, and remained so until his death in 2004.

She is survived by a daughter, Judy Woosley (Reverand Gary), a son Charles (Sherry) Childress, Grandchildren Mickey (Mary Ann) Woosley, April Constant, Adam Woosley, Robbie Childress and Kyle (Beth) Childress.  Great-grandchildren surviving are, Emily, Chris, Caleb, Logan, Ethan, Aislie, Brayden, Kariann, Gavin and Dawson, as well as great-great grandchildren Landen and Josh.  Two step great-grandchildren, Mallory and Madison, also survive.  One sister survives, Maxine Watkins (Clayton), a brother-in-law Floyd (Diana) Childress, and a sister-in-law Mary Langdon.

Other siblings that preceded her in death are Syliva Duvall, Wilma Lashley, Chesteen Powell, Elmer Powell, and Edgar Powell.

Sister Elvie was saved at a revival at Claggett Church being conducted by Brothers Leonard Snyder and Ditt Webb in late summer of 1948.  Her siblings attended the nearby Claggett School and the teacher allowed those who desired to leave class and attend day service at the revival. Sister Elvie's sister, Maxine,  was among the children that walked up the hill to the revival service.  On the way home from the service, Maxine's heart became troubled as she realized she was lost and without hope.  When Maxine got home, she asked Sister Elvie if she would go back with her to the revival that night. Sister Elvie said yes, and that she had made arrangements to meet two of their cousins to walk with them.  That night Maxine and Sister Elvie bowed on different ends of the altar and begged the Lord until the condemnation of sin was lifted and the love of God entered into their hearts.  They were mercifully saved.  Sister Elvie was baptized into the body of Claggett Church where she was a faithful member until later in life when she moved her membership to Short Creek United Missionary Baptist Church.

When Sister Elvie married, her husband Brother Lonnie, was not saved.  A good Christian woman, Sister Elvie was persistent in the pursuit of the salvation of her companion.  In 1955, Brothers Edward Dermitt and Ditt Webb started a tent revival in a chip yard on Sunbeam Road near Leitchfield.  Brother Lonnie resisted going but finally thought he'd go one night and that would get everyone "off his back".  The power of God came by that night and Brother Lonnie found the Lord.  The young couple's lives would be changed forever.  Just a few short years later Brother Lonnie was planting corn when the Lord called him to preach.   Brother Lonnie lacked education and his reading ability was very limited, yet the Lord preached him in a great way, and he became one of the most revered ministers among old time Baptist congregations, pastoring numerous churches and assisting in revivals.  Sister Elvie was the exemplary preacher's wife.  Never complaining, she was always filling the gap as to what was needed.  When Brother Lonnie was away from home tending to the Lord's work, she would do the milking, feed the livestock, and attend to raising the children until he would return home, never knowing when that would be.  She was in her place at home, and in her place at the house of God.  Brother Lonnie always enjoyed being around other people.  Frequently he would invite people to go home with him from church for Sunday dinner, and she would find out about it on the way home.  With nothing prepared beforehand, she would start from scratch when they arrived home. The pots and pans would begin their melodious sound and the smell of grease frying and of bread baking would fill the air. All of that would take a while, but not to fear, Brother Lonnie would keep the company entertained with his stories and the time would pass quickly. How the two of them loved to laugh and whatever Sister Elvie would have to say almost always ended with a chuckle.

Brother Lonnie and Sister Elvie were together: together in the ways of the Lord, together in what was right, together in raising the children.  They are now together in the sweet arms of the Lord.  Their purpose in life was not for the things of this world, their means were quite modest.  They set their affections on things above and while their health allowed, spent their lives in the service of the Lord.  Together they fought a good fight, together they kept the faith, and they will forever be together with the Lord.  They sacrificed, suffered, and gave their all that their family, neighbors, and friends could be together with them also.

Funeral Services will be 1:00 pm Wednesday (January 24, 2024) at the Dermitt Funeral Home in Leitchfield. Bro. Paul Hawkins will be officiating. Burial will be in the Short Creek United Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be at the Dermitt Funeral Home from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Tuesday and from 9:00 am Wednesday until time of services.