Elizabeth Wells Harrell

ELIZABETH "BETTY" Mellichamp Wells Harrell, 88, of Florence, passed away Thursday, December 20, 2012 in a Florence hospital after an illness. Mrs. Harrell was born November 11, 1924 in Sumter, SC a daughter of the late William Richard Wells, Jr. and Jessie Elizabeth Copes Wells of Sumter.She was a graduate of Marion High School, Mars Hill College and the McLeod Infirmary School of Nursing.She was a member of the cadet Nurses Corp during World War II.She was a former employee of Florence General Hospital in the Inservice Department and served as Director and Instructor of the Florence General Hospital School of Practical Nursing for 20 years.In the past, she had served as President of the Dual Lane Home Demonstration Club and was chosen as Woman of the Year in her club in 1962.Elizabeth was Director of Primary Sunbeams in Florence Association in 1963.Other areas of service in which she served was secretary of Ebenezer First Baptist Mission Committee of which she became a charter member of Northgate Baptist Church where she was Director of Intermediate Sunday School Departments, Assistant Training Union Director, Adult Sunday School teacher, church secretary, church clerk, church pianist, choir director, President of WMU and for 9 years, led the Kid's Corner.She also served as Children's Coordinator on the Mission Board for Lay Renewals in SC and Florida which she served in this capacity in nine states and five countries.Elizabeth was a member of the SC Farm Bureau and a member of Carolinas Hospital System Volunteers. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Morgan Hewitt Harrell; son, Wells McMillan Harrell and sister, Sophia Wells Barnes. Surviving are her three children, Morgan Richard (Linda) Harrell, Leon Hill (Karen) Harrell and Jessie Elizabeth Copes Harrell (James) Edwards, all of Florence; six grandchildren, Richard Walter Harrell, Hewitt Paul (Michelle) Harrell, Angela Renee Harrell (John) Cason, Amy Harrell, Joy Amanda Harrell and James Adam (Sandra) Edwards; five great-grandchildren, Brittany Ashley Harrell, Kaitlin Anne Harrell, Noah Griffen Harrell, Malena Rose Harrell, Tanner Morgan Harrell, Elizabeth Ann Cason, Jaden Robert Hughes and Peyton Elizabeth Gabrielle Edwards and a number of nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Northgate Baptist Church, 1217 N. Ebenezer Road, Florence, SC29501. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM Sunday, December 23, 2012 at Northgate Baptist Church conducted by Rev. Gerald McCants.Burial will follow at Ebenezer Baptist Church directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 10 AM – 8 PM Saturday at the residence of Mrs. Harrell. Please sign the guest registry for Mrs. Harrell at the obit section of www.stoudenmiredowling.com.