Harold Robert Harrell

Harold Robert Harrell, was born in Norman, Oklahoma on June 8, 1967 and passed away on Friday, July 15, 2016 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. His parents, David Edwin Harrell, Jr. and Adelia Roberts Harrell, who live in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida have been his devoted friend and companion. Robert is survived ,by one brother, David Edwin Harrell, III of Tampa, Florida, and three sisters, Mildred Susan Harrell of Washington, D. C., Elinor Elizabeth Roberts, and Marilyn Lee Carter of Weisbaden, Germany. Robert’s 10-year-old daughter, Ellie Mcshane Harrell, resides in Clarksville, Tennessee with her mother, Melissa Scott.

Robert is the namesake of two men who mentored his early life: Harold Glenn Dowdy and his uncle, Robert Harris Hardage. These men, along with Robert’s grandfather, Dr. David Edwin Harrell, Sr., a physician in Jacksonville for nearly 50 years, were founding pillars in the South Jacksonville Church of Christ. Robert graduated from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and received an MA degree from the UAB medical school as a nuclear medicine technician. He worked in that field for around twenty years in Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. Throughout much of his life, Robert preached and taught in Churches of Christ and had many Christian friends throughout the nation. In 2013, Robert determined that he wanted to be a full-time preacher and worked with the South Jacksonville Church of Christ as a trainee before becoming a full-time preacher at the Blackshear Church of Christ in South Georgia. In his time there the church grew larger and stronger and they regarded him as part of their family. Robert made three month-long trips to India where he preached to hundreds of Indians and befriended scores of preachers. He regularly communicated with hundreds of Christians in the United States and India, always encouraging and exhorting them to be faithful. Robert cared sincerely for every individual he encountered.

Robert was gifted in many ways. He was a fine artist whose paintings were displayed on a number of occasions. He was a talented musician and poet. He was a good golfer who spent many happy days playing with his father on some of the finest courses in the world. God blessed this imposing man and he blessed many people around the world.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 23 at 11 AM at Hardage-Giddens Hendricks Chapel, 4115 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32207. The family will greet friends beginning at 10 AM.

In lieu of flowers, Robert’s parents suggest that a contribution may be made to a fund in which he was an officer that was very important in his life:

The Indian Christian Evangelization Fund

P. O. Box 3397

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32004

Arrangements under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, Jacksonville, FL.