Mother Gwendolyn Powell Pryor

Gwendolyn Powell Pryor was born on November 19, 1942, to the late Angeonell Powell & Monroe D. Neal Sr. of Dale County, Al. On April 21, 1961 she married the love of her life, Willie Frank Pryor Sr. God blessed their union for more than 53 years, yielding 4 children, 5 grandchildren & 8 great grandbabies.

Gwendolyn, known by most as Mrs. PP, was baptized at an early age and was a faithful member of First Missionary Baptist Church. She was an active member of her church. She was the President of the Matron’s and sang in the choirs. She also loved and volunteered her time with Outstanding Children of Praise (OCOP) until her golden years where she could no longer.

She attended D.A. Smith school in Ozark, Al before becoming the first African American head cashier at Rose’s Department store until 1983. Shortly after, she was introduced to Mary Kay Cosmetics by her late best girlfriendSandra North. She loved meeting new people and selling her products to everyone she knew, so much that she became a Sales Director of Gwen’s Glamour Girls. On any given day you could catch a glimpse of her in her pink Buick Regal or red Grand Am riding around making sales. She enjoyed it for 33 years and still would help anyone get their products long after she retired.

She was just as successful with her family life. Dedicated wife and homemaker. Loving mother and grandmother. Gwen was the epitome of stellar! Gwen and Frank were loved & admired by many. The dedication she gave to her family was truly her driving force. Raising 2 boys and 2 girls was not a simple task, but Gwen did it with grace. Tragedy struck her many times throughout life but she stood on the promises of the Lord and with every storm, she gained strength. Gwen was a phenomenal woman.

Gwendolyn departed this life on August 30, 2022 peacefully. She was preceded in death by her parents and adopted parents Earcus (Anne Mack) Kizer; her husband Willie F. Pryor, Sr.; sons, Rev. Ernest P. Kizer and Willie “Sandman” Pryor, Jr.; daughter, Valshawn D. Pryor; sisters, Vivian (Harrison) Anderson, Nettie Ruth (Brown) Deyampert, Margaret (Wyatt) Taylor; brothers, George Powell; Harold T. Clark; Monroe “MD” (Linda) Neal, Jr.; Elder Ralph (Katheryn) Neal; brother and special parents David (Irona/76+95) Smith.

She leaves to cherish her love and memory: her daughter, Valeria A. Pryor; granddaughters, Simone K. Turner and Shahida F. Pryor; grandson, Curtis R. (Taciyana) Pryor-Crittenden, Coree R. (Patience) Crittenden, Jabriel D. Pryor; eight great-gran*dchildren, Christen A. Tolver, LáDaja A. Caldwell, Tanner A. Tuner, Sa’Riyah V. Pryor-Pierce, JaycenX. Williams, Bradlei K. Brackin, Legaci A. Carter and JasairiA. Pryor. Her siblings: sisters, Rosa Lee (Harford Jr. (d.)) Edwards; Claudetta Hopkins; Anita (Michael) Garner; brothers, Jeffrey (Grace) Ross; Kenneth (Joyce) Telfair; and Claude Hopkins; one sister-in-law, Zaydell Clark. Special sisters, Shirlene Griffin and Elnora Smith-Killings; one goddaughter Marilyn Neal. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and devoted friends.

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