Word has been received of the sudden death today of Jody Powell, who served as press secretary to Governor Jimmy Carter in Atlanta and to President Carter in Washington. He was 65 years of age. Powell died at his home near Cambridge of Maryland’s eastern shore, according to Jack Nelson, former award winning reporter and close friend of Powell. Nelson said that Powell had been working with firewood at his home with a helper who had briefly stepped away. Powell was found on the ground a short time later. Jay Beck of The Carter Center and friend of Powell’s said that Powell had previously survived a heart attack several years ago. In recent years Powell had been working with a public relations firm he founded in Washington. He had participated in the annual Carter Center weekend in Florida two years and enjoyed visiting with a large number of President and Mrs. Carter’s friends at that time. There has been no word yet on funeral plans.
