Alberta Frances Powell, daughter of Arnold (1895-1952) and Esther W. (Huwe) (1897-1987) Powell, was born 9 June 1928, Michigan.  She graduated in 1946 from Okemos High School.  Alberta had a beautiful soprano voice and she loved to sing.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 1 February 1946

A quartet composed of Lawrence and Alberta Powell, Lois Hayes, and Jake Staffer furnished the music for the call to worship program on W.I.L.S. Sunday morning and for the morning church service.  Rev. Alfred Hart, Towar Gardens, sang at the Sunday evening service.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Tuesday 4 October 1947

The choir furnished music for the Sunday morning broadcast under the direction of Jan Martin, a music student at Michigan State college.  The solo was sung by Alberta Powell.  Margaret Kelly, the church pianist, was the accompanist.

On 19 June 1948 in Okemos Baptist Church, Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan, Alberta wed Jacob Louis Stauffer.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 24 June 1948

MISS POWELL BRIDE OF JACOB STAUFFER

Okemos Baptist church was the site of the marriage Saturday at 3:30 p.m. of Miss Alberta Powell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Powell of Okemos, and Jacob L. Stauffer of Okemos, son of Jacob Stauffer of Wayland, Ia.

Performing the double-ring ceremony was Rev. E. C. Basler of Okemos, assisted by Rev. John Aseltine of the Strickland Baptist church and brother-in-law of the bride.  Vocal selections were presented by Mrs. Aseltine, accompanied by Miss Margaret Kelly.

White marquisette fashioned the bride's gown.  A wide lace ruffle bordered the square yoke and a gathered peplum.  A seed pearl tiara secured a fingertip length veil and she carried a shower bouquet of rapture roses.

Mrs. Agner Stauffer, sister-in-law of the bridegroom, was matron of honor.  She wore a gown of aqua taffeta with matching mitts and carried yellow roses.  Bridesmaids were Miss Arlyle Miller in yellow and Miss Margaret McDerby in dusty pink.  Each carried a bouquet of daisies.

Eugene Stauffer was best man for his brother and ushers were Edwin Stauffer of Wayland, Ia., brother of the bridegroom, and Lawrence Powell, brother of the bride.  Flower girl was Elizabeth Aseltine, niece of the bride, and Jerry Marshall carried the rings.

The newlyweds greeted their guests in the church parlors following the service.  In charge of arrangements were Mrs. Elmer Alberta and Mrs. Greda McFarren.  Also assisting were Miss Lois Selhorn, Miss Marian Huwe, cousin of the bride, Miss Greeta Miller, Miss Joan Cooper, Miss Lois Hays, Miss Kathleen Hammond and Miss Effie Bennett.  Miss Selhorn played piano selections at the reception.

The couple will be at home on Powell road, Okemos.

"Jake" and Alberta felt led to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to others.  Alberta's sister, Doris, and husband, John Aseltine, were missionaries to Algeria.  Jake and Alberta set sights on expanding the established work in Algeria, were interviewed and excepted under the wing of Christian Missions of New Jersey.  Stauffer's, now with an infant son in tow, set sail for Algeria in 1956.  This would be their home for the next 14 years as their family enlarged to include 3 more sons.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Saturday 16 June 1956

OKEMOS FAMILY EN ROUTE TO AFRICA

Rev. and Mrs. Jacob Stauffer and their infant son, Jacob, Jr., of Okemos, are en route to Algeria, northern Africa, to begin their first term as missionaries under the Christian Missions of New Jersey.

Mrs. Stauffer's sister and family, the John Aseltines, also are missionaries in Algeria.  Mrs. Stauffer and Mrs. Aseltine are daughters of Mrs. Arnold Powell of Okemos, and both missionary families are members of the Okemos Baptist church.

The mid-50's and 19560's were turbulent years as Algeria became a war torn country.  Both Aseltine's and Stauffer's lived precariously and watched many immigrants and native friends flee out of Algeria.  As with Aseltine's, the Stauffer family too was finally expelled from the country.  One story was told of them fleeing in a car towards the border with little more than the clothes on their backs.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Saturday 17 October 1970

The Rev. Jacob L. Stauffer of Williamston will be one of three visiting speakers in a missionary conference to be held Sunday through Wednesday at Maranatha Baptist Church.

A missionary to Algeria, North Africa, for 14 years, Mr. Stauffer said he and his family were expelled from there by the Communists last March.  They hope to go to France to continue work among Arabs and keep up their contact with Christians in Algeria, he said.

Unfortunately, their foreign work ended there and the family finally settled permanently in Ingham County.  Jake for a number of years preached and was a key-note speaker at many conferences and missionary retreats.  Jake, born 19 April 1925, Wayland, Henry County, Iowa, died at age 71, 3 May 1996, Ingham County.  He was interred Summit Cemetery, Williamston.

Alberta lived another 22 years.  In her last years she moved near to one of her sons in Texas and resided in the Guadalupe Valley Nursing Center, Seguin, Guadalupe County.  She went home to Glory, 24 April 2018.  Alberta lived John 3:16!!

Editor's Note:  After Jake's untimely death, Alberta was employed by my parents at Paty's Auto Parts.  I always enjoyed walking into the office and taking a brief moment to talk with her.  She was such a lovely lady.