Honoring His Legacy "Arthur Harrell

Our  beloved Patriarch, Brother Arthur Harrell, known for his soft spoken voice, gentle, kind, and fun-filled spirit, was called to his eternal rest at 1:08 AM on Thursday, February 20th, 2020 at North Oaks Medial in Hammond, LA.

Brother Arthur Harrell was the fifth of eleven children born to Palmer Harrell and Manilla McCoy Harrell on October 2nd, 1928 in Amite, Louisiana.

Brother Harrell was baptized at an early age and was faithful  and active member of Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church were he serves as Class Leader, Trustee, and various other ministries until his health prevented him form serving any longer.  Brother Arthur Harrell took delight in his work as an employee of the Tangipahoa Parish School System where he was a school bus driver for twenty-one years until his retirement. 

Brother Harrell had an abundance of pride and joy in being a loving and devoted husband to his bride of fifty-one years, as well as a father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He leaves to mourn, but cherish his strong legacy, four devoted sons, Arthur (Brenda Hickerson of New Orleans, La., Gregory Harrell of Dallas, Tx., Elder Michael (Denesia) Harrell of Amite, La., Dennis (Alessia) Harrell of Kokomo, IN., and a loving daughter, Cheryl  (Frankie) Hampton of Spring, Texas. 

Brother Arthur Harrell's most joyous and fulfilling moments in life were watching his eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild grow up to be beautiful, happy, and productive kids and adults. 

Paw Paw Harrell will always be loved and cherished by his grands. Shana (Terrance) Fenderson,  and Art Hickerson of New Orleans, La., Michael "MJ" Jr., Delana, Deandria, and Myron Harrell of Amite, La., Palmer and Savannah Harrell of Kokomo, In., and Frankie "Jamel" and Zachary Hampton of Spring Tx., Chanaria Hampton of Nice, Fl, and Sydne' Fenderson of New Orleans, La., The grands will be eternally grateful for the love, patience, and care shown to them by their dotting grandfather. 

Brother Arthur Harrell also leaves his fond memories for two sisters, Audrey Dumones and Bobbie Lois Harrell of Chicago, IL., and one sister-in-law Rosemary Harrell of Hammond, La., one godchild, LaToya Head of Amite, Louisiana., and a host of loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Bother Arthur Harrell was man who was always concerned about her others well-being and wanted to make sure he treated everybody right.

Source: Funeral Program for Brother Arthur Harrell

 

Bickham African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church History of Amite, Louisiana

My colleague, friend and Radio Talk Show Bernice Alexander Bennett sent me several obituary and other information that is vital to the history of African American people of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. She sent me this Cornerstone Service Program for Bickham African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

For anyone who are researching their family history these types of service programs and obituary can be very helpful and useful to you.

The Church History

In October 1796, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was founded in New York City. The organization grew out of the well-known dissatisfaction among the people of color over the kind of treatment received in services of the church. From the beginning, this independent movement of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was largely influenced and structured by James Varick. He was the consistent leader and was later the virtual pastor of the is first church called Zion.

Zion Church was incorporated in 1801 by the name, "The African Methodist Episcopal Church in New York " Methodist was always in the title to exhibit the retention of the doctrine and form of church government under which the denomination originated. "African" was prefixed to the rest of the title of the church because it was to be controlled by descendants of Africans in the interest of humanity, regardless of race, color, sex or condition. Another organization came into existence around the same time, with the same title, causing much confusion. Because of this, the General Conference of 1848 voted to make Zion a part of the denominational name.

As the growth of the Zion churches spread from city to city, village to village, it was affixed on the hearts of Mr. Leander Butler and Mr. Jordon Bickham to donate and acre of land in the Velma community, referred to at times as Bickham Town, for the purpose of constructing a Zion Church in order to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1878 Bickham Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was erected the acres of land and was named in honor of Mr. Jordon Bickham. Since that time preacher have preached, should have been saved, members have gone to the great beyond., but we here at Bickham Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church still cherish the memories of those who have contributed immensely to the upbuilding of God's kingdom.

Bickham Chapel A.M.E. Church, of the New Orleans District, is one of 14 churches in the Louisiana Conference. The leaders of this great organization are: Bishop Arthur Marshall Jr., Presiding Bishop; Reverend Hollis Callahan, Presiding Elder; Reverend Wille Gene Johnson, Pastor.

Our church is part of the A. M.E. Zion Church which believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost, the Virgin Birth, the Crucifixion, Resurrection, the Lord's Supper, forgiveness of sin and everlasting life.

The members are proud of their heritage and pledge to forever uphold and be governed by the laws of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. We further pledge to continue to life the name of Jesus who is our strength and our savior.

This church has has as pastors, God-like, devout Christian preachers: Rev. Nazereth, Rev. Joe Graves, Rev. Dillion, Rev J.S. McCall, Rev. P. A. Silas, Rev. S.C. Byrd Sr., Rev Charles Atherly, Rev. Hollis Callahan, Rev. Lemar Perry, Rev. Francis Williams, Rev. Charles Robinson and presently Rev. Willie Gene Johnson. These ministers have preached the gospel so that everyone could hear of Jesus, know of his goodness and see his works in the lives of men.

As we dedicate this church today, may it stand as a living monument that all the sons and daughters of Bickham A.M.E. Zion Church can rejoice and say we have come this far by faith.

Grant Chapel A.M.E. of Amite, Louisiana Church History

Photo Credit: Legacies of Color Scrapbook
Mrs. Gracie Perry

The history of Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church revealed that the construction of its present place of worship began the early part of 1972 and was completed and dedicated on August 20, 1972. The was the culmination of sustained hard work, diligent planning, and anxious anticipation; it was a dream and the answer to many prayers.

The congregation became together to amass funds for the erection of this building under the pastorate of Rev. S.D. Addison and continued to collect during the tenure of Rev. John Smith, and Rev. L.L. Lucien. When Rev. B. Alex Gibson was appointed to this church, there was concerted effort to obtain enough for a down payment necessary for borrowing money for completing this building.

The building committee selected by the church was as follows: Mrs. Mamie Ruffins, Dr. Percy L. Walker, Messrs. Fred P. McCoy, Xavier Smith, Sr., Nataniel Hines, Sr. & the late Booker T. Lawson.

The trustees at the time were Messrs, Emile Muse, Xavier Smith., Xavier Smith., J.C. Burkhalter, Dr. Percy L. Walker & the late Booker T. Lawson.

The late Rev. Leo Hawkins was presiding elder when the building was dedicated and the late Rt. Rev. I.H. Bonner was presiding bishop. Other ministers who helped to stir to the mortgage burning were Presiding Elder J. B. Hitchens and former pastor Fred Chambers just prior to our present Presiding Elder Thomas C. Johnson, Pastor David Bowles, and Bishop Frank G. Cumming.

Associate ministers of Grant Chapel during the payment of this church were the late Evangelist Beatrice Gatlin, Rev. Alex A. Spears., Evangelist Dorothy Himes and Rev. Charles Holmes.

Top Photo: Seated left to right: Mrs. B. Walls, Ms. M.F. Williams, and Mrs. Olivette Morris, Standing from left:  Messrs W. J. Lee, James Jackson, Nat Hines, Bernard Lawson, Arthur Harrell, and Fred P. McCoy.

Bottom Photo: Left to Right: Mrs. W. B. Jackson, Xavier Smith, Sr., Emile Muse, Dr. Percy L. Walker

Source: Reprint from Grace Walker's Legacies of Color Scrapbook, Amite Genealogy Library Archival Room

Tangipahoa African-American Online Newspaper

http://tangipahoaafrican-americannews.com