Dazella Denise Harper

Dazella was born August 7, 1946 to Marcella Booker and Charlie Johnson in Karnack, Texas. During her childhood days she moved to Marshall, TX to live with her paternal great grandparents, Charles and Hattie Thomas and during her teenage years she lived with her paternal grandmother, Mary Booker. While she was growing up each summer she looked forward to traveling to Houston, TX to visit her mother, step-father and her siblings. In 1965 Dazella graduated from H.B. Pemberton High School in Marshall, TX and she went on to attend a Historically Black College and University, Wiley College in Marshall, TX. Dazella graduated from Wiley College in1969 with a Bachelors of Science degree.

After graduating Dazella moved from Marshall, TX to Fort Worth, TX to make a better life for herself. She wasted no time, she received her teacher certificate in 1970 then started her professional career in 1971 with the Federal Government as a Contract Negotiation Specialist with the Department of Defense. There she met her husband James Ray Harper and in 1972 they married. James and Dazella had one child, a daughter Rhonda Nicole Merchant. Dazella lived in Fort Worth until 2000 when she moved to Arlington, TX. On January 2, 2005 Dazella retired from the US Government as a Contract Administrator after 34 years and 1 month of service.

Dazella was a faithful member of Mount Olive Baptist Church where she attended the Mount Olive Bible Institute (MOBI) to better understand the bible and to strengthen her relationship with God. She graduated from Basic Bible Studies in 2011 and from Advanced Bible Studies in 2015, she was so proud of this accomplishment and loved to share stores and wisdom from the bible to anyone she came across.

Dazella loved being around her friends and family, attending reunions, being an active member in The Wiley Club Alumni Association and traveling, one of her most exciting trips was when she went on an Alaskan Cruise. Dazella Harper was a beautiful person, inside and out she was a giver, whether it was with her time or resources, she would always call to check on her family and friends or surprise you with one of her beautiful cards or handwritten notes. Most importantly she loved God and her family. She was a beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend she will be dearly missed by those blessed to have shared in her journey.

Dazella leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter, Rhonda Merchant and her husband, George Merchant; grandson, Donavan Bell; granddaughter, London Merchant; three brothers, Jimmy Cleveland and wife Sandra, Willie Cleveland, and Gilbert Johnson; three sisters, Marilyn McDonald, Nancy Cleveland and Annie Cleveland and a host of other family and friends. She is preceded in death by mother, Marcella Cleveland, father, Charlie Johnson, grandmother, Mary Booker, brother Henry Cleveland.

A visitation will occur Friday, November 5, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, located at 301 W Sanford St, Arlington, TX 76011. A funeral service will follow from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, A graveside service will occur Friday, November 5, 2021 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Shannon Rose Hill Funeral Chapel and Cemetery, 7301 East Lancaster, Fort Worth, TX 76112.

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make donations to Wiley College. Please make checks payable to Wiley College and note Mrs. Dazella D. Harper on the memo line. Mail to :Wiley College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 711 Wiley Ave., Marshall, TX 75670 or contribute digitally via https://www.wileyc.edu/donate in memoriam to Mrs. Dazella D. Harper.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shannonrosehill.com for the Harper family.