Meridian, Mississippi - Martha Elizabeth Harrell, age 89, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2026, in Meridian, MS.

Born in Butler, AL, to the late Samuel Parker Harrell and Beverly Williams Harrell, Martha truly marched to the beat of a different drummer. Those who knew her will remember her lively conversations, her unmistakable personality, and her ability to make every gathering more interesting with a well-told story.

Martha was the 1955 valedictorian of Choctaw County High School (CCHS). She attended Judson College, the University of Alabama, and pursued graduate studies at Tulane University. She served as the director of the Department of Pensions and Security in Baldwin and Cullman Counties, and later spent many years as the office manager for her brother's veterinary practice, Meridian Animal Clinic, working alongside Dr. Gaines Harrell.

Outside of her career, Martha loved reading novels, solving crossword puzzles while drinking coffee and eating chocolate, playing the blues by ear on her baby grand piano, and traveling-especially to England. An exceptional gardener, she lovingly filled her yard with wildflowers she gathered from the roadside.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Bessie Parker Harrell.

Her memory will be cherished by her surviving sister, Beverly Harrell Jackson (Carl), her brother, Alfred Gaines Harrell Ill (Carolyn), and her beloved niece, nephews, and extended family.

Arrangements entrusted to Bumpers Funeral Home of Butler: https://www.bumpersfuneralhome.com