Flags have been ordered to fly at half-mast today in honor of Cumberland County Assessor of Property Lori Powell. Ms. Powell passed away last week after battling cancer. She worked in the Assessors Office for 13 years before being elected to the office of Assessor of Property last fall.  She served only eight months of a four-year term.     The Deputy Assessor will serve as Assessor until a decision is made by the County Commission on appointing an interim Assessor.

Funeral Services for Assessor Lori Powell will be today at 3pm at Crossville Memorial Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from noon till 3. She will be laid to rest at the Pomona Cemetery.  Lori Ann Powell was 58.  Ms. Powell is the highest-level elected county officeholder to pass away while in office in recent history.  The last time an elected county officeholder died in office (as far as we can find out) was in 1943 when Sheriff Lon Burnett died from kidney failure during his term.