On Saturday, November 9, 2013, Bennie Marcelle Clayton, 84, of Williamsburg, VA, died of complications from a stroke suffered on October 27, 2013.

Marcelle was born on June 17, 1929, in Searcy County, Arkansas.  A twin at birth, she was the last surviving sibling of 11 children born to William J. and Nettie Torix McDaniel.  After graduating from Snowball High School in Arkansas, where she played basketball, she moved to the Washington, DC area in 1949 and worked as a cashier at Marriott cafeterias.

In 1950, Marcelle met and married John Louis Powell and they opened Arlington Upholstery in Arlington VA.  She became the sole proprietor of their business upon John’s death in 1977.  Marcelle married Enoch Benjamin Clayton in 1982 and he joined her at Arlington Upholstery until his death in 2000.  In total, Marcelle provided over 50 years of interior decorating advice and services in the metro DC area until she retired in 2002.  She provided decorating services to the Vice President’s home, US Senators and high-level military homes.

Beyond her success in business, Marcelle provided care and support to those in need.  This included sponsoring Art Funes and his family from El Salvador for US citizenship, providing a home and end of life care for a long-term employee, and securing a home for several nieces and nephews in her home state of Arkansas.

Marcelle also enjoyed entertaining her friends and family throughout her life whether at her homes in Arlington, the Shenandoah Valley, Richmond, VA or Pinetops, NC.  And she never missed a chance during these occasions to share stories and memories from her rich and diverse past.

Marcelle is survived by her children, Jane Powell Farthing (Jesse), Nancy Powell Sheppard Stone, William M. Powell, and stepdaughter Donna Marie Powell Bryant Jackson (Willard).  She also leaves 14 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and 12 nieces and nephews.  In addition to her husbands, John and Ben, she was preceded in death by stepsons, John P. Powell and Ronald L. Powell and granddaughter Jessica Marcelle Farthing. Her 10 siblings preceded her in death, Hattie Garner, Edith Garner, Erchie King, Mabel McDaniel, Cora Crumley, Nellie Barnhill, Bill McDaniel, Jewel Brown, Willie McDaniel (her twin), and Liz Baliff.

The family will receive guests on Friday, November 15 between 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Omps Funeral Home, 1600 Amherst Street, Winchester, VA.  Services will be held on Saturday, November 16, at 11:00 a.m. at the Braddock Street United Methodist Church in Winchester, VA followed by interment at the Mount Jackson, VA Cemetary.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory, to the Alzheimer’s Association (ALZ.org) or the Nurse Family Partnership Pitt County Health Dept. 201Government Circle, Greenville, NC 27834.