Joe Lewis Ferrell Sr.

God sent an Angel down on Sunday morning while Joe Lewis was getting ready to go to church and said, "It's time to come home son." On Sunday, October 19, 2008, the Lord knocked on Joe Lewis' door and said "Let's go my wonderful servant." Joe Lewis Ferrell Sr., of Roanoke, Va., was born in Pittsylvania County on January 17, 1951, to Geneva Gunter Ferrell Harris and the late Joe Cephus Ferrell Sr. and raised by the late Harvey Harris. He was preceded in death by a son, Sylvester Reginald Ferrell; a grandson, Emani Christopher Ferrell; both of his fathers, Joe Ferrell Sr. and Harvey Harris; a sister, Evangelist Rosa Lee Hickman; a brother, Adolf Ferrell; a niece, LaTressa Faye Stephens; and two nephews, James and Maurice Ferrell. He is survived by his wife, Iris Virginia Ferrell; five children from the union of his previous marriage, Joe Lewis Ferrell Jr., of Roanoke, Va., Jermaine L. Ferrell, of Witchita Falls, Texas, Ellen C. Ferrell, of Burgaw, N.C., and Christy L. Ferrell, of Roanoke, Va.; his loving and devoted mother, Geneva Ferrell Harris; sisters, Mary Ferrell, of Roanoke, Va., Tuesday and Wednesday Ferrell, of Danville, Va.; brothers, James (Carolyn) Ferrell and Joe Cephus Ferrell Jr., all of Roanoke, Va., and Ralph (Mary) Harris, of Petersburg, Va.; stepdaughters, Jessica Wells and Gail Jones; mother-in-law, Alberta Wells; daughter-in-law, Maria Ferrell; brothers and sister-in-law, Micheal, Breion, Ben and Sandra Wells; adopted daughter, Chanda Cole; uncle and aunts, Curtis (Kathy) Carter, Shirley Carter and Louise Gunter, all of Roanoke, Va.; 13 grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2008, at Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Cedric Malone officiating. The interment will be in Williams Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 24, 2008, at HamlarCurtis Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to www.Hamlar-Curtis.com.