A celebration of Anne's life will occur on
Friday, October 28, 2022
Vine Memorial Baptist Church
5600 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, Pa. 19131
Viewing: 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
Service: 11:00 a.m.
We request family and friends who prefer
to send plants or flowers,
to coordinate with one of the
following reliable local florists:..
June's Floral Design: (610) 726-4351
Overhill Flowers: (215 ) 473-1842
Simply Floral: ( 610) 622-7980
Have the florist deliver
your selection
to the Church no
later than 8:30 a.m.
the day of the service.
DUE TO A GLITCH IN OUR SYSTEM
PLEASE DISREGARD THE FOLLOWING
NOTATION REGARDING ANY ORDERS
INCLUDING FLOWERS, CANDLES OR
MEMORIAL TREE PLANTINGS
WITH THE TRIBUTE STORE!!!!
THANK YOU!!
OBITUARY FOR ANNE J. HARRELL
Anne Johnson Harrell was born on November 13, 1932 in Edenton, North Carolina. She was the
youngest child and only girl of Oscar Johnson, Sr. and Geneva Green Johnson.
Anne enjoyed her childhood in Edenton. She had many cousins and school friends who she
enjoyed spending time with and they often would hang out at the local conner store located at 129 Gale
Street in historic Edenton. Anne was a Cheerleader at Edenton High where she met Lynn Harrell, who
later on in life would become her future husband. They were a couple who looked good together; him as
a quarterback and her as a cheerleader.
Anne and Lynn were married in Edenton, North Carolina on December 25, 1948. Shortly after
the birth of their first child, Pamela, the family moved to Philadelphia in the early 1950s. Later the
family expanded with two more children, Joyce, and Lynn Jr. Anne had a variety of jobs over the years:
Census Worker, Telephone Operator, Stockperson at John Wanamaker’s Department Store, Teacher’s
Aide in the Philadelphia School System, and finally School Librarian. She retired as a Librarian from the
Baldi Middle High School in 1994. Determined to get her GED Ann not only received her diploma, she went on to obtain a
Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a certificate as a Para-Legal from
Villanova University. A member of Kadesh African Methodist Episcopal Zion church since childhood in Edenton, Anne
joined Alleyne Memorial A.M. E. Zion Church after moving to Philadelphia; however, Anne later followed
her husband to Vine Memorial Baptist Church where she was baptized by Reverend James S Allen. She
sang on the Sanctuary Choir, formally known as the Oratorial Choir under the direction of Charles Robert
Jones. Anne served as the choir’s President for nine years.
Anne loved to have her family over for holiday meals and fun activities. Whenever the question
would arise “where is dinner going to be”, she would say “the house is always here”!
Anne is preceded in death by her parents Oscar Johnson, Sr., Geneva Green Johnson, older
brothers Thomas Earl Green and Oscar Johnson, Jr., and her beloved husband Lynn D. Harrell, Sr. She
leaves to cherish her memory, three children Pamela J. Byrd (Marvin), Joyce A. Harrell,
L. Douglas Harrell, Jr.; four grandchildren, Richard K. Harrell, Angela A. Byrd, M. Ronald Byrd, Jr.
(Michelle), Aja M. Harrell; four great grandchildren, Tylan R. Thornton, Nyla G. Harrell, Dominic W. Byrd,
Jordan R. Byrd; two great-great grandchildren Noah Martinez-Harrell, and Roman Martinez-Harrell.
