Robeson-Columbus County NcArchives Obituaries.....Harrell, Rev. J. D. 1926
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Sam West sam.west.1@gmail.com March 8, 2015, 4:01 pm

The Robesonian, 19 JUL 1926
DEATH NOTICE OF REV. J. D. HARRELL
 
Vast Throng Attends J. D. Harrell Funeral
            _____

Funeral of Colored Minister Yesterday Afternoon Surpasses Any Ever Held in County 
– Night Comes Before Hundreds Can See Corpse – Rev. Harrel Died of Acute 
Indigestion Thursday Afternoon.
   Funeral services conducted at Pleasant Grove church, near St. Pauls, for Rev. 
J. D. Harrell, colored, yesterday afternoon surpassed any ever before held in the 
county, and darkness arrived without hundreds of colored and white people there 
getting to view the remains of the minister who had served so efficiently the 
people of his race.  It is estimated that the crowed was large enough to fill the 
church at least four times, it being by far the biggest funeral ever in Robeson 
County.  Many people estimated the crowed at 5,000, while others said there were 
more in attendance.
   Rev. Harrell was interred with Masonic ceremonies amid the vast throng.  Dr. 
J. H. Moore, pastor of Shiloh church, Wilmington, was in charge.  Other minister 
from Greensboro, Fayetteville, Winston0Salem and other towns in North Carolina 
were present, some of them taking part in the ceremonies.
   Rev. Harrell had been suffering since July 4 with acute indigestion, of which 
he had an attack after preaching a sermon at Mt. Tabor, the cause of his sickness 
being a pickle he ate.  At the time of his death he was 56 years old.  He was 
preceded to the grave about a month ago by his wife, Rosa Harrell, whose funeral 
was the biggest ever held in the county of Robeson, the funeral procession being 
two miles in length.
   The Rev. Harrell is said to have enjoyed the distinction of serving the 
largest number of people as pastor of any colored minister in the State.  He was 
the pastor of Hilly Branch church, near Lumberton; Pleasant Hill; Fairmont’ St. 
Stephens, Chadbourne; and Mt. Olive, Evergreen – four of the largest Baptist 
churches in this district.  He was also a deputy of the 22nd Masonic district, 
State of North Carolina, moderator of the Lumber River association, founder and 
grand chief of the Independent Benevolent Order of Friends, the best friend the 
colored people of this section had, and a medium between his race and that of the 
white.
   He had a great many friends among the white people of Lumberton, and a large 
number of them attested their respect for him by attending the funeral yesterday 
afternoon.  He had amassed a neat little fortune in and about Lumberton during 
the years he lived here.


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