Effie M. Bennett-Powe

Effie M. Bennett-Powe, a pioneer in Early Childhood Education and anti-bias studies, and a beloved friend and family member to many, died peacefully at Kingsway Arms Nursing Center on Monday, July 8, 2024.

Effie was born on February 25th in rural Henryetta, Oklahoma. She was the oldest daughter of sharecroppers Earnest Floy Bennett and Katie Velma Tunley. Effie’s family found their livelihood picking cotton; however, her parents advocated for her to become college educated to escape the cottonfield.

Effie received a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Langston University, and subsequently taught at a Bureau of Indian Affairs school in North Dakota. She later went on to receive a Master’s degree in Individual and Family Studies from Penn State University, and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from The University of Durham in England.
Effie became a resident of Cobleskill in 1965 when she was recruited to work at SUNY Cobleskill as a Professor in the Early Childhood Division. During her tenure she was named a Distinguished Service Professor by SUNY’s board of trustees. She also received a grant to develop the first state-wide anti-bias curriculum for teachers and parents, and she developed and taught a course at SUNY Cobleskill, “Anti-Bias Strategies: A Human Relations Approach”, which is still taught today. She devoted 34 years of service at the SUNY Cobleskill Child Development Center, which was renamed the Effie Bennett-Powe Child Development Center in her honor.

A woman of strong faith, Effie was an active member of the Calvary Assembly of God Church, and in Women's Aglow Fellowship for many years. As an avid community organizer, she co-developed “A Community Committee on Respect and Diversity” (ACCORD) to provide resources on anti-bias issues and conflict resolution tools to support Schoharie County public schools as well as children and their families within the Schoharie County community. Effie was also a member of The National Association for Education of Young Children, the National Association for Black Children, and Delta Kappa Gamma. She was often asked to speak about her life, and was invited to speak about her legacy to an audience at the University of Oklahoma in 2015.

She is survived by her daughter, Nomi-Kaie (Cory Forrest) Bennett; step-daughter, Diedre Powe; sisters, Verlyne (Charles) Foster and Diane (Ronald) Blackwell. She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph E. Powe; brothers, Quinton Lee Floy Bennett and Willard (Gloria) Bennett. She is also cherished in the hearts and minds of nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren, and the dearest of friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 24th at Calvary Assembly of God, 960 Mineral Springs Road, Cobleskill, NY 12043 with Pastor Ray Richards officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends at the church from 10-12PM with the memorial service beginning at 12:00PM and a reception to follow. For those unable to physically attend, we invite you to join in on services via Calvary Assembly of God's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Contributions in memory of Effie M. Bennett-Powe may be made to Calvary Assembly of God Church, 960 Mineral Springs Road, Cobleskill, NY 12043 or SUNY Cobleskill Daycare Foundation, 106 Suffolk Circle, Cobleskill, NY 12043.