Funeral Services Set For Gwinnett Judge Who Was Hit By Truck

BUFORD, GA — Memorial services have been set for Emily Powell, the Gwinnett County judge who died last week after being struck by a truck while crossing a street in Buford, Dec. 20.

Powell, 64, was one of Gwinnett’s original magistrate judges and sat on the bench for more than 20 years. She is survived by her husband, attorney and former Lawrenceville city councilman Tony Powell, her two children and two grandchildren.

Related: Gwinnett County Judge Dies After Being Hit By Vehicle

A visitation period from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. will be Monday at Tom M. Wages Lawrenceville Chapel, 120 Scenic Highway, Buford. Open visitation will be held at that time each day through Friday, Jan. 17.

The family will also receive visitors at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 17.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Buford Church of God, 4800 S. Lee St. in Buford. The family will receive visitors before from 2 to 4 p.m. For more about Powell's services go to the funeral home website.

Powell died New Year’s Eve, after being hit by a truck Dec. 20, while walking to meet friends for dinner in downtown Buford, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Gwinnett County police believe she was crossing W. Moreno Street at S. Lee Street when a woman driving an F-150 hit her while making a turn.

The crash is still under investigation and the driver, who police say left the scene without calling 911, has not been charged. The woman did, however, later contact police, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Police have asked anyone who saw the crash or was present for its aftermath to call detectives at 770-513-5300 with information.

Powell grew up the daughter of a minister and a nurse in Richmond, Va., and was a member of the first Davidson College class to include female students. She moved to Georgia to attend law school at Mercer University, where she met her future husband.

Powell was appointed as one of Gwinnett’s original magistrate judges in the 1980s. She sat on the bench for more than 20 years before quitting to raise her two children, Jessie and Nathan — but then returned to the court as a senior judge.

Powell was also a devout Christian and a talented knitter, quilter and needlework artist.

“She made everything she touched more beautiful,” her obituary reads.