Mother Myrtle Lee (nee: Barker) Harrell transitioned to eternal life on Sunday, November 7, 2021, at Ascension Hospital in Racine, Wisconsin. She was born on May 18, 1929, to the late Barbary and Lena (nee: Roach) in Clarksville, Tennessee (TN). Mother Harrell attended A. & I. Tennessee State College in Nashville, Tennessee. Myrtle met and married her first husband, George Washington, Sr., in Clarksville, Tennessee. There were two children born to that union. Mother Harrell later moved to Wisconsin with her two children by herself. She met Robert Harrell, Sr. and they married on May 10, 1952. To this union, five children were born. Mother Harrell professed Christ at the age of 12 years old under the leadership of the late Elder Thomas Mann in Clarksville, Tennessee. After relocating to Racine, Wisconsin, she became a member of the Twelfth Street Church of God In Christ (C.O.G.I.C.) under the leadership of the late Bishop Walter L. Morris. While at Twelfth Street she became the Choir Director. The church relocated and became Grace Temple C.O.G.I.C. and after the demise of Bishop Morris, the late Pastor Jettie L. Cornett became her pastor, and she continued as Choir Director and working with the Youth Department on holiday skits and plays. For 40 plus years Deacon and Mother Harrell distributed Christmas baskets throughout the community. Robert preceded her in death on September 21, 1979. In 1987, Mother Harrell moved her membership to United C.O.G.I.C. under the leadership of her brother-in-law, the late Elder Nesbie Allen and the late Bishop J. C. Williams in Third Jurisdiction. In Third Jurisdiction she was the State Soloist and the Financial Secretary of the Women's Department. While at United C.O.C.I.C. she continued worked with the Youth Department and President of the Usher Board. In Racine she furthered her education by attending UW Parkside University in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Teachers College Units in Union Grove, Wisconsin. She was previously employed at Southern Colony and St. Mary's Hospital as a phlebotomist. She was also employed at the Community Action Program (CAP) and created a pre-school program which was located at the Racine Street Gym and the Dr. John Bryant Center. She was a receptionist for the Senior Program at the Dr. John Bryant Center and a committee member for the J. W. Wilkerson Debutant Cotillion. In her leisure she enjoyed doing word searches, playing Dominoes, playing Uno, reading her Bible, and most importantly, spending time with her family. She leaves to cherish her memories her children, Elizabeth Washington, Arementia, Jerome (Grace), Jerold, Michael (Barbara) and LeVette Harrell; granddaughter, Mia Washington, 26 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Cleo Barker, Marie Green, Effie Autry, and Elaine Mason, and a host of nieces and nephews. She also leaves special friends, Mother Hettie Doss (Bone Head) and Sandy Luxon. She was preceded in death by her parents, Barbary and Lena Barker; husband Robert L. Harrell Sr., two sons, George Washington and Robert L. Harrell Jr., granddaughter, Nickie Merritt, grandson, Marlon Harrell, siblings, Maple Taylor, Eleanor, George (Mary Ella), and Robert (Elsie) Barker, Lena (George) Bray, Vicie (Elder Nesbie) Allen, Nathaniel (Sadie), Flossie Barker, and Corinna (Willie) Owens, and godson, Pastor Lewis L. Doss, Jr.

Service Details

Her Homegoing Service will be held in the United Church of God in Christ, 2849-92 ^nd St., Sturtevant, WI, on Friday, November 19 ^th , at 12:00 O'clock Noon, with her Pastor Curtiss Doss officiating. Visitation will be in the church that Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow in West Lawn Memorial Park. The Service will be live streamed at the link below.

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