Decatur County GaArchives Obituaries.....HARRELL, WILLIAM JAMES, M.D., January 31, 1881
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Catherine Burr catherineburr@yahoo.com August 30, 2009, 12:19 pm

Transactions of the American Medical Association, Vol. 32 by the AMA - Philadelphia, PA, 1881 - pp. 513-514


HARRELL, WILLIAM JAMES, M.D., of Bainbridge, Georgia, was born in Decatur
Co., Ga., June 8, 1848; died at his residence in Bainbridge, of acute
meningitis, Jan. 31, 1881. He was educated in Bainbridge, but his academic
course was interrupted by the war between the States, and as a boy soldier
he served two years in company A, Georgia Battalion of Cavalry. On the
cessation of the war he resumed his studies, and went to Washington College,
Lexington, Va., where he took a partial course under the presidency of Gen.
Robert E. Lee. Returning home, he began the study of medicine in the office
of Dr. W.N. Bruce. When sufficiently advanced, he went to Philadelphia and
attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, where he received the
degree of M.D.

Dr. Harrell returned to Bainbridge, and at once began the practice of his
profession. He had been in all his studies earnest, studious, and ambitious.
His candidacy for professional patronage was in a community where his
character and worth as a man were well known. His zeal and intelligence soon
brought him business. In 1871 he was united in marriage, in Americus,
Georgia, to Lilla Goldwire, of Quincy, Florida.

He was always a close student, and attended to every duty, but after his
marriage he seemed to have redoubled his energies, and was untiring in his
devotion to his chosen profession. When the yellow fever of 1873 appeared in
the place, he was, in consideration of his family and his own delicate
health, advised to take rest at some mountain resort until the epidemic
should pass. To this solicitation he promptly replied that he would "much
rather die at his post" than even seem to waver in his duty to the community
and the families who, if attacked, would rely upon him in their hour of
need. The danger was real and earnest, but he never faltered, and was
attacked with the fever at his post, and for days his life was despaired of,
but he fortunately recovered, to the great joy of all who knew his worth.

Dr. Harrell took great interest in the prosperity of the town, and for many
years served as one of the aldermen in the city council. The last three
years of his life, and at the time of his death, he was mayor of the city.
He was elected three times without opposition, such entire satisfaction did
his administration of the city government give to the people. He was a
member and a regular attendant at the meetings of the American Association
of Georgia, and was at the meeting of the American Medical Association at
Atlanta, Ga., in 1879, when he was elected by vote a permanent member. He
was a prominent member of the "Knights of Honor," and was a representative
of the Grand Lodge of Georgia. He was also a member of the Masonic
fraternity, and stood high in the councils and operations of most of the
local benevolent societies. He has honored every position in life which he
held, and had he been permitted years, he would have won an exalted position
in the medical profession.

On the announcement of his death the Bainbridge City Council was called in
special session and passed a series of resolutions appreciative of Dr.
Harrell's worth as a citizen, and of his fidelity as an officer of the city
government, and attended his funeral in a body. The Supreme Court of the
city also took notice of the fact of the death of the mayor of the city, and
adjourned the court for the day, that the officers and clerks might attend
the funeral.

During the time the remains of Dr. Harrell lay awaiting interment, they were
visited by nearly every person in the city, rich and poor, white and
colored, for he was personally and favorably known to nearly every one. He
leaves a widow and four small children. His remains were deposited in the
Bainbridge Cemetery, to which they were followed by a large concourse of
people, the city councils, and various societies; and interred with the
impressive ceremony of the Masonic fraternity to which he belonged.

-- Data from Dr. T.S. Hopkins, and from sketch in Bainbridge Democrat.

Headstone Inscription:

MY HUSBAND
In Memory of
W.J. HARRELL, M.D.
Born in Decatur Co., Ga.
June 8, 1847.
Died Jan. 31, 1881.

An affectionate Husband
and Father, a devoted Son
and Brother.

Here 'neath this stone that silent weeps
A loving husband-father sleeps.
Kind brother, son of tender heart
His earthly aim life's noblest part.

We laid.

Source:  Google Books

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