Mattie Pearl Harrell

Mattie Pearl Smith Harrell was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on September 8, 1926, where she met Leejuel Washington and together had Raymond William Sr. Then she later traveled from down south to Stockton, California in search of a better life.

Mattie started off as a hardworking short order cook in a restaurant. Soon after, she met and married Luther Harrell Sr. Together they had five children Luther Earl Harrell (Lou), Wayne Harrell, Bruce Aaron Harrell, Anthony Renee (Tony) Harrell and Constance Denise (Connie) Harrell. While raising her big family Mattie then started her career at Diamond Walnuts, after 20 years of hard work she retired. In her retirement she continued her work in the community through outreach programs in Stockton, Ca.

Mattie's dedication to her people in the community lead to making south side Stockton a better place to live and raise a family. Because of all her hard work and resilient efforts over the decades she was honored with a park named after her in 1978, the Mattie Harrell Park, located on 2244 S. Lincoln St., Stockton, CA 95206. Mattie was also honored with many awards and achievements during her extraordinary long life. She was also a part of The Ebony fashion fair shows. She was a beloved member of her church third Baptist where she was an usher and on the mothers board for many years.

In her spare time she loved spending time with her grandkids and working in her garden, she loved all kinds of colorful plants and flowers, she was a very snazzy dresser, she always liked looking sharp, she loved fine jewelry - anything that sparkles in her words she “loved little dainty things”. She loved herself some good ole Soul Food, Collard greens, pigs feet, chitlins, and cornbread. She spent her final years at a senior community called Rio Las Palmas with her lifelong best friend Thelma Terry were they both enjoyed playing bingo and going out on adventures. She received excellent help in her business affairs, from her son's best friend Bernard Missouri - her son from another mother.

Mattie P. Harrell went onto glory March 26, 2022. She is preceded in death, by her mother and father, her children Luther, Wayne, Bruce, and Raymond. She is survived by her two living children Anthony (Tony) Harrell and Constance (Connie) Harrell and a host of grandchildren Raychelle (Nikki), Wanda, Chanel, Leslie, Wayne Luther, and the youngest Anthony and Sabrina - along with a plethora of great grandchildren. Her grandson, Anthony Harrell, picked up the torte and became her caregiver which gave her the best ending in life.