powell was born in gloucestershire, england c. 1854. in 1885 she emigrated to new zealand, where she lived with her brother. she was active with the invercargill branch of the new zealand woman's christian temperance union (wctu) she served as president of the invercargill branch, which became the second largest branch of the wctu in new zealand. powell stayed active in the nz wctu for over 30 years, working as a corresponding secretary, recording secretary, and organiser. in 1890 she attended her first national convention. in 1900 she attend the wctu world biennial convention in london, and was made a life member in 1919.