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REV.  THOMAS  JOE  HENRY  BURRELL
 

Rev. Thomas Joe Henry Burrell, 80, of Murphy died Thursday (Jan. 4, 2007) in a Murphy hospital.  A native and lifelong resident of Cherokee County, he was the son of the late Fred Thomas and Dennie Patterson Burrell.  
 
He was a WWII veteran serving in the US Army in the European Theatre.  He was awarded a Governor’s and DAV Life Service Achievement Award.  As a disabled American Veteran Chaplain of the Woodrow Wilson chapter in Blairsville, GA, Rev. Burrell was instrumental in obtaining Honor Guard equipment from Georgia Governor Joe Frank Harris.
 
Thomas was a minister of the Baptist faith having preached at numerous churches, most notably Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Hickory Grove, NC in 1959 with the Preacher Rev. Billy Graham.  He was a member of the Wilscott Baptist Church.  Jay loved the Lord.
 
He was preceded in death by a son, Fred Dennis Burrell.
 
Surviving are two daughters, Brenda Roach of Matthews, NC and Victoria Cowdrick of Murphy;  five sons, Ronnie Burrell and Joe Burrell both of Murphy, Henry Burrell of Andrews, Ricky Burrell of Douglasville, GA, and Jack Burrell of Cartersville, GA;  three sisters, Thelma Jo Measmer of Murphy, Bertha Sue Collins of Franklin, TX, and Rosa Lee Schewe of Franklin, NC; six brothers, Danny Burrell of Murphy, Dee Burrell of Payette, ID, Larry David Burrell of Jasper, GA, Maxie Burrell of Franklin, Jack Burrell of Blairsville, and Jimmy Burrell of Lithia Springs, GA;  and 18 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
 
Funeral services at 2:00 PM Sunday (Jan. 7) in the Wilscott Baptist Church with the Rev. Johnny Burrell officiating.  Interment in the Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery.  Pallbearers: Michael, Christopher, Brent, Matt, and Daniel Burrell, and Bobby Measmer.
 
The family will receive friends from 6-8 Saturday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy where the body will be placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the services.
 
Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

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