Voncile Powell, 60, of Akron, passed away suddenly on April 22, 2026. She was born on November 7, 1965, in Akron, Ohio. Voncile was the daughter of the late Lula Mae Powell and Edward Brown Leary.

She grew up in Akron and attended Roswell Kent Junior High, where she was a cheerleader and met her lifelong friend, Shellaree Twitty. At an early age, Voncile developed a passion for hair and makeup. She attended Garfield High School and enrolled in the cosmetology program. She also ran track and held the city record in the hundred-yard dash for 20 years. After graduating in 1984, Voncile was employed at Studio East by Linda Lee, who saw something special in her.

After leaving there, she worked at Becton’s Salon. Later, she and Denise Strickland became entrepreneurs and opened Shear Pleasure Beauty Salon. Voncile traveled all over the country attending classes, hair shows, and seminars to master her craft. She truly enjoyed making people look and feel good and became one of the best hairdressers in Akron during her era.

After suffering a stroke in 2009, Voncile retired from doing hair. A few years later, she went on to pursue a degree at Brown Mackie College, where she earned two associate degrees. She excelled in anything she set out to do. She later became a certified pharmacy technician, working for CVS and Drug Mart pharmacies.

Voncile was creative, bold, brazen, and sometimes brutally honest, with no filter — she was going to tell you like it was. She loved hard: her family, friends, and anyone else she met along the way. She had a unique style, sometimes mimicking Mary J., her favorite entertainer. She attended Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and loved to sing. Over the past few years, she suffered with mental illness, but one thing is certain: she had a deep love for God and Jesus Christ.

She is survived by her son, Richard Greer, Jr.; daughter, Rashae Greer; sisters, Sharon and Kimberly Powell; brothers, Duane Powell (Darlene) and Edward Hopson (Karenne); grandchildren, Alayah Greer, Alyiana Greer, Kingston Greer, and Jerzee McLane; aunt, Lonnie Smith; special niece, Marsheri Smith; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends, Jesse Johnson and Tanaya Lee.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Jeff and Hattie Powell; paternal grandparents, Anthony and Lea Leary; mother, Lula Mae Powell; father, Edward Brown Leary; sister, Carrie Robinson; maternal uncles, Jerome, Walter, and Jeff Powell; and aunts, Salonia Bushner, Mary Mayes, Ernestein Strother, and Fannie Addie.

A funeral service to celebrate Voncile’s life will be held at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 422 Bell St. in Akron, on May 22, 2026. Pastor Jeffrey A. Dennis will officiate. Visitation will be at 12 PM, with services beginning at 1 PM.

The family would like to thank everyone for their donations and all the acts of kindness and love shown during this very difficult time. Online condolences may be sent to GoFundMe under King Rich Greer on Facebook.