Mary Crisp

Cuisine connoisseur and retired guidance counselor, biology and science teacher, Mary Margaret Rogers Crisp, freely gave her family, friends and students a taste of God’s goodness while living on this earth. Mary passed away August 30, 2022, at the age of 69 after a life-long battle with diabetes and congestive heart failure.

Mary the youngest of four children was born in Athens, Tennessee, and being raised in Charleston by her late parents, Samuel Jackson Rogers and Martha Anne Nichol Rogers. Preceded by her husband Gary Crisp and late husband Edward Powell. She was also predeceased by her siblings, Lois Anne Rogers Weber, Samuel Jackson Rogers II, and Sara Elizabeth Rogers Barham. Mary is survived by her son, James Logan Powell, who resides in Sweetwater, Tennessee.

Mary completed her Master’s degree plus at the University of Tennessee in educational psychology. She spent the last 10 years of her 36-year professional career as a Guidance Counselor for grades kindergarten through twelfth grade. She delighted in providing academic, career, social-emotional competencies to all her students helping them navigate through their formative years. Mary’s passion for education kept her continuously striving in the education field as she poured out her life to help others achieve and live up to their fullest potential.  Mary inherited her love for biology and science from her father, the late “Jack” Rogers (Tennessee’s first of seven State Game and Fish Commissioners). Jack served in Tellico Plains and established the family “cabin” for future generations to partake in the beautiful Smokey Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. Mary’s pursuit of biology and science education started at Cleveland State, where she completed her Associate degree in Computer Programing. Mary later graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan with her bachelor’s degree in biology and science education. One of Mary’s favorite career opportunities was being the science coordinator for Columbia County in Arkansas.  Mary was fortunate to travel and teach in many cities: Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Atlanta, Georgia; Taylor, Arkansas; Orangeburg, South Carolina; Tellico Plains and Sweetwater, Tennessee. She loved traveling, tasting the worlds cuisines and whipping up those delights for those surrounding her at her table.  She has touched many lives in her teaching career and known as the “fun” teacher “Ms. Powell” to hang out with during study hall or after classes. She made close friends along the way, friends that traveled hundreds of miles to give her one last hug while sharing their lifetime memories together and friends that brought meals and words of encouragement up to her last moments. Mary exhibited an outstretched hand to anyone in need, willing to help even to a sacrificial level, a true expression of God’s heart of mercy.  Mary lived out the goodness of God and made sure all those in her midst tasted to know that He, the Lord, is good in all things. She adored her son Logan and literally laid down her life for him, he was the apple of her eye and loved telling everyone about “My Logan”.  Her smile that squinted her happy little eyes and her contagious giggle that always seemed to linger awhile will be missed and cherished.  Thank you Aunt Mary, for I am one that was touched by the goodness of God living through you. See ya up yonder!

The family will have a private memorial service at their family cabin in Tellico, Tennessee. In celebration of her life, a Sugar Maple tree will be planted. In lieu of flowers, the family request to light a candle or plant a memorial tree in honor of Mary’s love for trees and nature.