Wanda Thursia Harrell

Wanda Thursia Harrell, 84, went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 after a brief illness. The only child born to Elmer and Buena Driskell on November 6, 1926 at Powhatan, Arkansas, Wanda spent her young years in Powhatan and Black Rock. At the close of WWII when the love of her life was discharged from the Navy, she married Marcy Monroe Harrell in Detroit, Michigan where they made their home for the next twelve years. They had two daughters during this time, Pamela Lea and Candis Kay.

In 1958, the Harrell’s moved back to Walnut Ridge to be closer to family and help Mr. Albert Harrell in his shoe store in Black Rock. This was the beginning of Harrell's Shoe Outlet in Walnut Ridge which closed in 1971. Mrs. Harrell retired from the Lawrence County Cooperative School (Portia, AR) as physical therapy aide. She loved the children there and was a much loved care giver. Immediately upon her retirement, Mrs. Harrell sought activities and causes to keep her busy and was active in the First Baptist Church of Walnut Ridge and delivered Meals on Wheels, and helped with the care of her parents. Finding a job in her area of expertise, Ms. Harrell became a Wal-Mart greeter at the Walnut Ridge store and continued as a greeter in Parker Road Wal-Mart in Jonesboro until the day she entered the hospital, 17 years later. Mrs. Harrell loved her job, her colleagues, and considered them a second family.

The Harrell’s moved to Jonesboro in 2004 and became active in First Baptist Church and many community events. Her neighbors on Oak Meadow Cove and her Sunday school members became her close friends, and she treasured the time spent with each of them.

Mrs. Harrell was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 63 years. Her living family includes her daughter Pamela Harrell Bush and husband Ben of Jonesboro, and daughter Candy Harrell of Fayetteville. She loved her precious grandchildren, Tanner Bassett of Fayetteville, Tiffany Bush Meyer of Evansville, Indiana, and Jordan Bush McIntire of Jonesboro. Their spouses became her grandchildren, too: Sarah Bassett, Ryan Meyer, and Jeremy McIntire. The great-grand children were more treasures to love: Ella and Grace Bassett, Aiden and Saylor Meyer, and Haley-Anne, Brinlea, and Bracken McIntire. "Nanny" was loved by all her family and will be missed forever. It was a privilege for her family members to be by her side when she left to be with her Lord.

Mrs. Harrell has many friends and extended family members whom she talked about often and continued to keep as a special part of her life.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 2p.m. at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Dr. Bruce Tippit officiating with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Burial will follow at Lawrence Memorial Cemetery in Walnut Ridge.

Visitation will be from 1230p.m. until service time.

Honored to serve as active pallbearers will be Ben Bush, Tanner Bassett, Jeremy McIntire, Dr. Ryan Meyer, Jerry D. Bassett, and Lonnie Gilbreth.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Tom Sloan, Leroy Lacy, Max Harrell, and Dr. Ralph Joseph.

Sign Online Registry: www.emersonfuneralhome.com