Most of her grandchildren remember Gramp Powers as their grandfather since her first husband had died before many of the grandchildren were born.

She was born in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, Canada, the eldest of 11 children. Her parents later moved to Portland and Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Maine Her parents are both buried on Chebeague. Her earliest ancestors in North America lived in Boston & Edgartown, Massachusetts, USA; York, Maine, USA; and Lebanon, Connecticut, USA. They later moved to Nova Scotia, Canada. The Woodsum ancestors had come to Berwick, Maine, USA, from Leeds, England, in the early 1700's. They later were in Biddeford, before settling in the 1780's for several generations in Saco, Maine, until the death of Walter Herbert Woodsum in 1953, when the family land was sold.

She had married Edward P. Woodsum on 15 May 1888 in Portland, Cumberland, Maine. He was the father of her 3 daughters and 1 son. Edward died on 4 January 1917 in South Portland, Cumberland, Maine, where he is also buried. She married Wentworth S. Powers "Gramp Powers" on October 19, 1918, in Fall River, Bristol, Massachusetts.

Gram Powers was a pastry cook in Naples, Maine, and different summer resorts in Maine. Chunky, happy person. Loved making pies, fried dough, etc. Lived in the "Red House" on the West End of Chebeague Island year round. Wentworth Powers was a captain and ran boats in New Rochelle, New York before the Depression. She had a store (candy, tobacco and soda) on the West End corner of South Road beyond the Allie and Edgar Dow house. Marion tells of Gram's patience with Geraldine and her as they played beautician with her. Combing her hair, etc. while she rested on a couch. Often said they could do anything without an objection or complaint. Mary Ellen remembers that Gram Powers taught her to read and recite poetry. At one church pageant, even though Mary Ellen was only five and not part of the program, she walked to the front, stood proud, and recited several poems that Gram had taught her. Since Mary Ellen's mother Helen was often away for surgery to restore her eyesight, Gram was very special in Mary Ellen's life.