Dr. Mary Nell Hunt Harrell Mosley

Dr. Mary Nell Hunt Harrell Mosley was born June 27, 1927, in Bowdon, GA, to the late Lee and Lizzie Kight Hunt. She transitioned to her heavenly home on June 10, 2024. She was preceded in death by her brother John Wesley Hunt, sister Annie Lee McGhee, a nephew, John Lee Hunt, and five nieces: Jacqueline Cole, Barbara Wimberly, Vivian Springer, Gwinnett Ladson, and Janice Thomas. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and was a member of New Hope United Methodist Church in Bowdon, GA. Mary Nell, as she was affectionately known, spent her early years of learning in the segregated school system in Carroll County GA. She graduated with honors from George Washington Carver High School in Carrollton, GA. Upon finishing high school, she entered Rust College in Holly Springs, MS, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She continued her educational pursuits and earned a Master’s and Specialist Degree in education from Mississippi State University. Additional graduate study was also done at Tuskegee University, Mississippi Valley State University, and the University of Mississippi. In 2003, she received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Arts from her alma mater Rust College in Holly Springs, MS. Mary Nell was an active alumnus of Rust College and served on the Board of Trustees for over 25 years. She supported her alma mater by recruiting numerous students over the years. Mary Nell was united in holy matrimony to the late Loye Edmond Harrell. To this union, two sons were born. In 1959, Loye Edmond Harrell transitioned to his heavenly home. In 1967, Mary Nell married the late Rev. John Wesley Mosley. They remained married until he transitioned to his heavenly home in 1983. Her educational career path in secondary education began in the early 1950’s at Liberty Hill School. The school served grades 1-12 and was the only high school for African Americans in that portion of Oktibbeha County. In 1953, she began a teaching and leadership role at Chapel Hill School in the southwestern portion of the County. She served as a teacher, basketball coach, and eventually principal at Chapel Hill. From 1955-1961, she not only taught students, but she also served in the role of cafeteria manager at Sturgis Elementary School. In 1961, she began three years of service with Maben Elementary Schools. In the fall of 1964, Mary Nell ended her long-standing and stellar career with the Oktibbeha County Schools and began a new career with Starkville Public Schools. This career began at Ward Elementary School and on to Overstreet Schools and ended in 1970. She was one of the first African American teachers deployed to Overstreet Elementary School at the beginning of the court-ordered desegregation process in Starkville. Her late husband, Rev. J. W. Mosley was assigned as District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church, which was based in Winona, MS. While in Winona Mary Nell taught sixth grade. After five years in Winona, Rev. and Mrs. Mosley moved back to Starkville where he returned to the role of Pastor at Griffin United Methodist Church. Mary Nell returned to Overstreet Elementary School where she finished her career and retired in 1987. In totality, she provided over thirty-seven years of service to the citizens of Oktibbeha County. Mary Nell’s affiliation with Griffin Chapel United Methodist Church began in the early 1960’s. She immediately emerged herself into the various youth and children ministries and served in numerous capacities for over 40 years. As the coordinator of the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF), she ensured that the Griffin youth were greatly involved in activities at the local, district, and conference-wide levels. One of the stellar activities each year was the annual UNICEF fundraiser that was also associated with the youth travel from home to home to do Christmas caroling to seniors and shut-ins. She was also instrumental in organizing educational trips for the youth of Griffin and other area United Methodist Churches to various national sites, museums, and historical locations. This also included numerous trips to the Gulfside Assembly of the previous Central Jurisdiction of the Methodist Church, Waveland, MS. Mary Nell also served Griffin as church school superintendent, coordinator of the summer vacation bible school program, Sunday school teacher, class leader, membership secretary, kitchen coordinator, and many other capacities. She was also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and a chartered member of the Pi Iota Zeta Chapter. Mary Nell is survived by her two sons; Dennis (Yvonne) Harrell and Joel (Sandra) Harrell, seven grandchildren; Kimmerly Harrell, John (DeShelle) Harrell, Christopher Harrell, Denita Canada, Chaconda Harrell, Dennis Calvin Harrell II, and Remel Watson, 13 great-grandchildren; Jason Harrell, Justin Harrell, Gyasi Harrell, Donya Fleming, Chris Keeling, Caleb Harrell, Gabriel Canada, Jua’Nay Harrell, Montey Kelly, Taylor Williams, Bianca Williams, Unique Williams, and Elijah Williams, three great-great grandchildren; Tamira Keeling, Loyal Cook, Honor Cook and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Family has requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the following: John W. & Mary N. Mosley Endowed Scholarship Rust College 150 Rust Avenue Holly Springs, MS 38635 Cards and other expressions of sympathy may be mailed to the following address: 4709 Tugalo Trail Douglasville, GA 30135 Please keep the family in prayer during their time of bereavement. “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” ~Matthew 15:23

Tributes

Dr. Mary Nell Hunt Harrell Mosley

June 10, 2024