Zelma Maxine Powdrill was born September 12, 1934 in Oakwood Texas. She was the oldest of six children born to Jimmie and James Gilmore.

She attended Prairie View A&M college. Through a mutual acquaintance, she met Harold Lewis Powdrill in Corpus Christi, Texas. They moved to Los Angeles, CA in the early 1960s and got married. In 1962 they moved into their first home with their new baby girl Tara. Soon to follow was their son Phillip in 1964 and their second daughter Valerie in 1965. The backyard was filled with several fruit trees, which Maxine, as she commonly known, gave up to expand the home. She always enjoyed spending time with her dear friends. She took time to take her children to visit with family and friends on weekends after mandatory household cleanups were done. Our family enjoyed many vacations across the country. A trip to Canada was especially memorable.

She was a woman of faith and values. She attended Bethel A.M.E Church on Los Angeles, CA. If you were in need, all you had to do was ask, whether it was a seat at the table, a sweet potato pie or something else. She had a great sense if humor. Maxine enjoyed playing bridge, collecting quilts, flower arranging and cooking. Her sweet potato pie and banana pudding were the absolute best! Special occasion dinners were totally delicious! She loved See's peanut brittle, She was very passionate about artwork and antiquing! Some of her favorite musician included the Supremes, Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66, Dionne Warwick, Nat King Cole and Jonny Mathis. She worked at General Hospital in downtown Los Angeles and then moved on to become an Eligibility Worker for the county of Los Angeles for 35 years until she retired in 1992. After retiring, Maxine and her husband Harold moved to Corpus Christi, Texas

Her brother Joe  Gilmore preceded her in death. Her husband Harold preceded her in death in January 17, 2021

She is survived by her daughters, Tara Powdrill and Valerie Powdrill; son Phillip Powdrill. She is also survived by her brother James Gilmore, Jr brother Lexie Gilmore and sisters Merlie Hill and Doris Scriven. She leaves behind nieces, nephews and an assortment of family and friends.

Our mother, Zelma, will always be missed. The sound advice she gave us and the words of wisdom will always remain with us. She had flair, she had style, yet she remained humble.

"My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive, and to do so with some passion some compassion, some humor and some style." Maya Angelou