Rev Billy Wayne Harrell

Rev. Billy Wayne Harrell passed away April 19, 2019 at the age of 84 in Ellisville, MS. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Elladean Miles Harrell. He was born in Ball Hill (Lufkin), Texas to Rev. J.E (Preacher Pa) Harrell and Lula Isabel (Belle) Cooper Harrell. His mother died when he was a young child and several years later, his father married Ruby Anderson Harrell (Granny Ruby), a young widow, who raised Billy as her own child. He grew up in the Nacogdoches/Lufkin, Texas area, graduating from Lufkin High School in 1953. He attended Wesley College (formerly Westminster College and Bible Institute) in Tehuacana, Texas, where he met and married Elladean Miles. He graduated with an Associates of Arts in 1955. He furthered his education with a Bachelor of Arts from John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AK in 1973, and a Masters of Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA in 1982. Billy worked as an instructor at Westminster College and Bible Institute, Tehuacana, TX 1957-1959. Feeling the call to ministry as a missionary, he and Elladean applied to World Gospel Mission and were accepted as missionaries. With their 3 young children, they left for language school in Costa Rica in 1961. They proceeded from there to Honduras, Central America. He served in various positions with World Gospel Mission including field missionary, Field Director twice, Southeastern Area Representative, and Assistance to the Vice President for Field Ministries. After his retirement from World Gospel Mission in 1984, he became Director of Missions for the Congregational Methodist Church in Florence, MS where he served until July 2000. He was not content with retirement and saw an opportunity for continued ministry with the Hispanic community in the Laurel, MS area. Beginning with a small congregation, he and Elladean, with God’s help, built a new church in Laurel and continued in that ministry until his final retirement at the young age of 81. He was loved by his congregation and many continued to visit him regularly after his retirement. He is survived by daughter - Wanda (Jim) Cooksey, son - Dan (Jennie) Harrell, and daughter - Brenda Harrell; grandchildren - Christopher, Benjamin and Mark Harrell, Elizabeth and Richard Thompson; and 10 great grandchildren; sisters - Maudel Christopher, Zella Bunch and Betty Stanley and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at Memory Chapel in Laurel, MS on Tuesday – 4/23/2019 from 5PM – 7PM. An alternate visitation session will be held on Wednesday – 4/23/2019, at 10 AM at Mt. Vernon Congregational Methodist Church, Laurel, MS. Funeral service will be on Wednesday – 4/23/2019, at 11 AM at Mt. Vernon Congregational Methodist Church, Laurel, MS. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Billy Harrell to World Gospel Mission – Honduras Ministry. https://www.wgm.org/project/memorials

Rev Billy Wayne Harrell

October 24, 1934 - April 19, 2019