Above: Charlie Powers, who served four of Raleigh’s bishops, received the news that he was awarded a papal honor. He died April 11, 2025, shortly before he was scheduled to receive it.
Attorney Charles F. Powers, III learned he was going to be granted knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, a papal honor for those who serve the Catholic Church. He knew because Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama had called him with the news.
“He couldn’t believe it,” said Sandy Chrisawn, Powers’ longtime significant other. “He called me at work, and he said, ‘I just got off the phone with the bishop’ and then he started telling me about the award … Once we got off the phone, I looked it up and realized how truly amazing it really was. He was just so in awe. And he was so proud.’”
Powers, who was best known as Charlie, died April 11, 2025, before he was scheduled to receive the honor at a special Mass later that month. He was 81. Powers, who had practiced law for 58 years and served the diocese as legal counsel for 50 of those years, built a legacy of steadfast service during his lifetime.
He conducted his professional work as a ministry and served the Church at the parish level as well as serving as chairman of several charities at different points in his life.
“He’s a blessing to the Diocese of Raleigh and a true and faithful servant of the Church and the Lord,” said Bishop Luis. “Widely respected in the legal community, in the Church and among the presbyterate and lay staff of the Diocese of Raleigh … his faith and fidelity to the Church are evident.”
The Catholic faith was central to the lives of his parents, Charles F. Powers II and Pearl Streb Powers, and it became central to his life as well, said Chrisawn. He was a lifelong Raleigh resident, and his maternal grandparents were bakers who operated the Royal Baking Co., which was on Hillsborough Street.
“Charlie was very outspoken. If it came up, it came out, you know?” Chrisawn laughed. “And he had a heart as big as Texas. He really did … he was very lovable, and he was very loving.”
Powers grew up playing baseball and other sports and spent many of his summers as a lifeguard. He attended Raleigh’s Cathedral School and Cathedral Latin High School. He graduated from Belmont Abbey College, a Catholic college in Belmont, North Carolina, before going on to graduate from law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
From 2002 until his retirement in December of 2024, he worked for Poyner Spruill, where he practiced corporate and real estate law. Those close to him said he was a loving father and grandfather to his son Dan and granddaughter Naomi and enjoyed watching Tar Heel football and lacrosse and celebrating his Irish heritage at St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Savannah, where his father was from.
Charlie Powers’ funeral Mass was held at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral April 22, 2025. Father Chris Koehn presided.
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