March 29, 1929 –

Feb. 26, 2011

A funeral service for James R. “Jim” Harrell, 81, of Bainbridge, will be held Tuesday, March 1, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church with the Revs. Paul Medley and Tom Shields officiating.

A graveside funeral service with full military honors and Masonic rites will follow at West Bainbridge Cemetery with Chris Harrell, Stephen Harrell, Jamey Harrell, Sam Jones, Nathan Harrell Jr., Durwin Harrell, David Powell, Ted Martin, Curtis Wacaser and Monroe Godwin serving as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be his Masonic brothers and the Baraca Sunday School Class.

Memorial donations may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or First Baptist Church Shell Annex Fund, P.O. Box 155, Bainbridge, GA 39818.

Born March 29, 1929, in Bainbridge, Mr. Harrell died on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, at Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, Ga.

Mr. Harrell was the son of Hoke Smith Harrell and Ila Mae Croley Harrell. He graduated from Pine Hill High School, Class of 1946, and attended Norman Park College. Mr. Harrell served in the U.S. Air Force, and retired from the U.S. Army. He was a gun ship pilot and medivac pilot in Korea and Vietnam. He owned and operated Harrell’s Aviation, which he founded in 1973. He was a member of First Baptist Church, and the Baraca Sunday School Class.

He was a member of V.F.W. Post 4904, American Legion Post 62, Disabled Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Officer Association, and Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association. Mr. Harrell began his Masonic career in 1952 and was a 33rd degree member and past venerable master of Albany Scottish Rite of Free Masonry. He was past master of Orion Lodge 8 F&AM, past commander of Crusader Commandery 17, past High Priest Royal Arch Mason 94, past master George H. Fields Council Royal Select Master, past Patron of Order of the Eastern Star, Bainbridge, Chapter, past potentate and treasurer emeritus of Hasan Shrine Temple, past Sovereign Red Cross of Constantine, past president of Bainbridge Shrine Club, and past director of Royal Order of Jesters. He was a member of Georgia Priory 39 KYCH, Order of Silver Trowel, High Priesthood, Dixie Council 314 Allied Masonic Degrees, York Rite College 189, Royal Order of Scotland and Order of Quetzalecotal. He was past chairman of the board of governors of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa, Fla., and a representative to Sovereign Grand Inspector General of Scottish Rite Masons in Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Nathan S. Harrell, and his sister, Annette H. Gregors.

Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Sandra Batts Harrell of Bainbridge; his sons, Dennis H. Harrell and his wife, Addine, of Warwick, Ga., and Charles P. Harrell and his wife, Janet, of Ochlocknee, Ga.; his daughter, Vontae Jones and her husband, Sam, of Bainbridge; his grandchildren, Christopher Harrell, Stephen Harrell, Jameson Harrell, Katelyn M. Harrell, Kasey J. Harrell, Peyton Jones and Abbie Jones; and his great-grandson, James Harrell.

Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.