Zenobia Powell Perry was an accomplished American composer, professor, and civil rights activist. Born in Boley, Oklahoma, to a well-educated and middle-class family, she exhibited musical talent from a young age and was influenced by traditional spirituals and notable musicians like Hazel Harrison. Despite initial resistance from her father, she pursued her passion for music, studying at various institutions, including the Cecil Berryman Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music. Perry's formal education culminated in her graduation from the Tuskegee Institute in 1938, where she began composing original music encouraged by her mentor, William L. Dawson. Throughout her career, Zenobia Powell Perry served as a professor at several institutions, including the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Central State University, where she also held the role of composer-in-residence. Her compositional style was characterized by classical elements with influences from black American and Native American folklore, jazz, and folk music. Notably, she wrote an opera titled "Tawawa House" and contributed to orchestral and choral compositions. Perry's dedication to civil rights led her to join the NAACP in 1962, and she remained active in her community. Her life was marked by personal challenges, including raising her children as a single mother and overcoming a battle with breast cancer. Zenobia Powell Perry passed away in 2004, leaving behind a legacy of music, education, and activism.