Our Story, Our History in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes

Three Harrell Descendants Joined the Ancestors Realm

It saddens my heart that my mother joined the ancestor realm on March 30, 2020. Her first cousin Arthur Harrell and second cousin Lottie Harrell joined the ancestors as well. Each of them will forever be in our hearts. All three left a remarkable legacy. My mother was the family griot, and she passed the family oral history to me. Isabel "Bell" Harrell was the daughter of Jasper Harrell, Sr. and Josephine Richardson Harrell. Arthur was the son of Palmer Harrell and Manila McCoy Harrell. Lottie was the granddaughter of Warner Harrell and Velma Warford Harrell.

My mother passed away in Slidell, Louisiana, at the home of my oldest brother and his wife. Cousin Arthur passed away in Tangipahoa Parish, and Cousin Lottie passed away in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because of COVD-19, my mother has a private service. Mom was eighty-years old. She turned eighty on December 25.  Not a day goes by, and we don't think of them. They are missed by their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives. My mother was the first one out of all her siblings to reach the age of eighty years old. She was one of ten children born to her parents. She leaves to cherish her memories, four children. Cousin Arthur and his wife Ruth Avant Harrell were the parents of four children. Cousin Lottie was the mother of two sons. 

Josephine Armstrong Temple

Josephine Armstrong Temple
Photo Courtesy of
Robert Temple, Jr.

Josephine Armstrong Temple was married to Robert Temple in Tangipahoa Parish. She taught school in Tangipahoa. She was born around 1916 in Colorado. In 1940 she was living in the house of  Ethel Temple. Living in the house also; Hollis Temple, Walter Temple,  her son Cornelius Temple and her husband ,Robert Temple. 

Robert and Josephine had three children; Cornelius Alton Temple, Robert Temple, Jr., Carolyn Temple. She died in 1950 and was buried in Butler Cemetery in Amite, Louisiana.