TROY — Opal Jeraldean “Jerry” Lanier Harvell, 88, formerly of Thayer Road in Troy, and a resident of Cross Road Retirement Community in Asheboro, passed away on Sept. 15, 2024, at the Randolph Hospice House.
A service to celebrate Jerry’s life was held Sept. 21 at Ophir Methodist Church, with the Rev. Doug Hefner officiating. Inurnment followed in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Harvell was born in Randolph County on Nov. 22, 1935, to Lee Roy Lanier and Lala Frye Lanier.
She attended grammar school at New Hope Elementary and graduated from Farmer High School in 1953. She married Allen Harvell in 1953 and followed her husband to Alabama and Georgia while he served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
She worked for General Electric in Asheboro for almost seven years and left to attend nursing school, where she graduated in 1965 from Wilson’s School of Nursing. She went to work for Randolph Hospital in the operating room. After 29 years, Jerry retired from Montgomery County Health Department as RN PHN III. She loved her patients, and their health needs were her priority. She volunteered and loved doing things for others.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 66 years, Allen Harvell; sisters, Irene Pittillo and Colene L. Hardister; her brothers, Roy Clyatt Lanier and George Donald Lanier; niece, Lequita Lanier Ingold; and nephews, William Lee Hurley and Donnie Hardister.
She is survived by brother-in-law, Elsie Hardister; sister-in-law, Jean Lanier; nephews, Jeff Lanier, Sammy Lanier, Danny Hardister and Timothy Hardister; niece, Connie Sue Lanier Kopochi; several great-nieces and nephews; and by special cousin, Judy F. Chriscoe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to Cross Road Retirement Community, 1302 Old Cox Rd., Asheboro, NC 27205.
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.briggsfuneralhome.com.