Joseph W. Harrell

Mr. Joseph W. Harrell, age 92 of Griffin, passed away on Monday, June 8, 2015. Mr. Harrell was born March 6, 1923. He was one of six boys and three girls born to Jacob Liston Harrell and Rebecca Lillian Eakins Harrell in Burgaw, North Carolina. He graduated in 1940 from Burgaw High School. He attended N.C. State; four of the six boys were in the military during World War II. Joe joined the U S Navy in 1942. After boot camp, attended V-12 school at Emory University, met Annie Laura Du Pree, wearing a Red Cross uniform, on a street car as she was returning home from volunteer work at Crawford Long Hospital. Joe graduated from U.S. Navy Midshipman’s School at Columbian University in New York, took amphibious training at Little Creek, Virginia and assigned to LST.959 as 1st LT. His stint in the Navy started at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba through the Panama Canal , then taking a zig-zag course to Pearl Harbor, tied up to the bulk of the capsized U.S.S. Arizona. He visited such places as the Johnston Islands, Guam, Saipan and Tinian. He also served on the USS Anne Arundel, which was the ship that participated in the invasion at North Africa, Italy, Southern France, and Normandy. After returning to Atlanta from his military service, he married on March 30, 1946. He worked as a draftsman for Southern Bell, and a few years in sales with Willingham-Little Stone Co. and retired from Amax after 26 years of service at the age of 56. He and Mrs. Harrell then built their 3rd home in the middle of 157 acre cattle farm in Spalding County. On December 1996 they moved into their 4th home in Griffin, gifting the 157 acre farm to the WinShape Center (a foster home organization). Mr. and Mrs. Harrell had supported many organizations throughout the years. He and a small group of people calling themselves the Oak Hill Cemetery Preservers, repaired and set upright or cleaned well over 300 grave markers in the old section of Oak Hill Cemetery and Old Rest Haven. They also prevailed in getting the Lamp of Freedom lit after several years of darkness. The group also got the Christian Women’s Temperance Union Fountain moved and water connected. For several years they worked to preserve Camp Stephens and were successful in getting the county to take over this historical civil war site as a park. After the death of his wife in 2006, he donated pictures and relics to the Welcome Center and Museum. His is survived by a sister, Blanche Hill of North Carolina and many nieces, nephews and friends. It was Mr. Joseph W. Harrell’s wish, that he was to be buried beside his wife at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta and a formal service not be held. Anyone wishing, may remember Mr. Joseph Harrell by giving a gift to Stepping Stones, 141 Futral Rd., Griffin, Ga. 30224, Scottish Rites Children Health Care 1001 Johnson Ferry Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30342, Egleston Children Health Care, 1687 Tullie Circle NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, Attn: Gift Processing or Roosevelt Warm Springs Rehabilitation Fund, 6135 Roosevelt Highway, Warm Springs, GA 31830.

Joseph W. Harrell

March 6, 1923 - June 8, 2015