Vanessa Leigh Powell age 45 of Starke

November 15, 1974 - May 14, 2020

Vanessa Leigh Powell age 45, of Starke passed away Thursday, May 14, 2020 at Haven Hospice E.T. York care center in Gainesville. Preceding her in death were her grandparents, Vic Frees, Bill Powell, Ruth Powell and Dot Porch, uncles, Ronnie Whitehead, Luke Powell and Ralph Bryan. Survivors are, her parents, Bill and Vicki (Frees) Powell of Starke, brother, Chris Powell of Austin, TX, grandmother, Charlotte Frees of Gainesville, Uncle, Donald Frees (Claudette) of Melrose, Kathy Whitehead of Louisville, KY, Harriet Bumgarner of Middleburg, Tammy Patrick of Starke and many cousins. Vanessa was born in Gainesville on November 15, 1974 and was disabled and ill much of her life. She has a long history of surgeries and multiple cancers that began in 1977 at age two. Over her lifetime, she faced nine different types of cancer. She was proud to acknowledge her blood and medical history were part of two research studies for Li Fraumeni Syndrome at the National Institute of Health and MD Anderson Cancer Center. She hoped her participation in these studies would make a difference for others. Vanessa attended Starke schools and graduated from Bradford High School in 1996. She had many special teachers who helped her achieve this goal. Vanessa will be remembered as a kind and caring person, always thankful to all medical personnel helping her. Helping to support others with medical concerns brought her to join many Facebook medical groups. She had a great love for animals, had two special rescue dogs she called her fur babies; Qtip and Bella, along with her rescue cat Lynyrd. She also had a cockatiel named Woodstock, many fish and a ball python named Henry. Vanessa was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Starke, had a great sense of humor, enjoyed reading, listening to music, road trips with family, watching TV and studying crime stories. She held a great wealth of knowledge on famous crimes and their outcomes. She loved to visit old cemeteries, read headstones & imagine how the people lived. Cades Cove was one of her favorites as well as those in Savannah and Charleston. Vanessa was a much loved unique person, and will be missed. Private graveside funeral services will be held on Friday, May 22, 2020 at Eliam Cemetery with Pastor Mike Moore officiating. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to, Supporters of Sheltered Animals, 1228 Blanding St., Starke, FL 32091. Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home of Starke 904-964-6200 www.jonesgallagherfh.com.