WILMINGTON — Roger Gant Powell passed away on January 1, 2026, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC. He was born on November 28, 1949, in Fayetteville, NC, to Catherine Gant Powell and the late Robert J. Powell, Jr.
He is survived by his mother Catherine Gant Powell of Greenville, NC, his wife Anne Bear Powell, his daughter Anne Powell Goldsborough (Les) of Baltimore, his son Roger Gant Powell, Jr. (Daniel Pesick) of Brooklyn, NY, his son Samuel Bear Powell of Brisbane, Australia, his brother Robert J. Powell III (Clarine) of Greenville, his sister the Rev. Catherine R. Powell of Wilmington, his brother Ronald M. Powell (Amy) of Davidson, and 5 grandchildren: Dylan, Ted, Ben, Eliza, and Adger.
Mr. Powell received a BA in Economics from Davidson College in 1971 and pursued a career in investment banking, starting at United Carolina Bancshares in 1975. He joined Alex. Brown & Sons in 1983 and maintained his position as Managing Director through their acquisitions by Banker’s Trust and Deutsche Bank. Mr. Powell joined Janney Montgomery Scott as a Managing Director in 2008, formed his own consultancy in 2016, and joined the Burke Stelling Group in 2021.
Mr. Powell was a gentleman, an avid outdoorsman, fisherman, sailor, gardener, and raconteur. He defeated pancreatic cancer in 1994 under the care of Johns Hopkins Hospital. He enjoyed traveling the world and made friends everywhere he went. He was a conservationist and actively engaged with the community. Mr. Powell was an honorary member and former chair of the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Zoological Society and founding member and first chair of the Board of Directors of Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, Inc. He was a founding member of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins National Advisory Board, served on the Maryland Institute College of Art Board of Trustees, and on the finance committee of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society. He gave regularly to the Arbor Day Foundation and the Boys & Girls Home. Mr. Powell was a member of the Cape Fear Country Club, Carolina Yacht Club, the Elkridge Club, and the Baltimore Bachelors’ Cotillon.
A service celebrating Mr. Powell’s life will be held at 12 PM on Saturday, January 24th, at St. James Parish in Wilmington, NC.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (gorilladoctors.org) or a charity of your choice.
