Dr. Albert Brantley Harwell

Dr. Albert Brantley Harwell -OTTO, NC - Dr. A. Brantley Harwell of Otto, North Carolina, passed away July 22 at his residence after an eleven-year illness. He was 76 years old. -Dr. Harwell is perhaps best known for his forty-plus years of ministry in various churches in Indiana, Kentucky, and Georgia. panning the years 1958-1972, Dr. Harwell served as Minister of Education and Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church Charlestown, Indiana; Bethany Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky; Immanuel Baptist Church, Paducah, Kentucky; First Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia; and Vineville Baptist Church, Macon, Georgia. Dr. Harwell began his ministry as senior pastor at First Baptist Church, Barnesville, Georgia (1972-76), and continued in that ministry at First Baptist Church, Carrollton, Georgia (1976-88); and First Baptist Church Morrow, Georgia (1988-94). For three years, he served as interim and administrative pastor at Scott Boulevard Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia; First Baptist Church, Lawrenceville, Georgia; and Clarkesville Baptist Church, Clarkesville, Georgia. He finished his ministry with three years of pastoral ministry at First Baptist Church, Homerville, Georgia (1998-2001), after which he retired to his home in North Carolina. -Dr. Harwell also served on the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (1975-83), including a term as Vice-President (1979-80), as conference leader at various Baptist Assembly Camps (Ridgecrest, North Carolina; Glorietta, New Mexico; Toccoa, Georgia; Norman Park, Georgia), and in various teaching and writing capacities in Baptist institutions and publications. Along the way, he earned degrees from Howard College (now Samford University), the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Midwestern Theological Seminary, where he earned his Doctor of Ministry Degree. -Dr. Harwell was preceded in death by his daughter Andrea Brindley Harwell, his father Loy Napoleon "Jack" Harwell, his mother Audrey Foster Harwell, his brother Dr. Leslie Foster Harwell, and his father and mother-in-law, Hugh and Edna Brindley. He is survived by his wife and partner in ministry, Joanne Brindley Harwell, with whom he shared 54 years of marriage; by sons Dr. A. Brantley Harwell, Jr. and wife Amy Foglietta Harwell; Dr. Hugh Blake Harwell and wife Dana Branton Harwell; by Loy Barry Harwell and wife Margo Martens Harwell; and by grandchildren Gina, Brindley, Brooke, Abby, Andrew, Emilie, and Hunter, who remember him as Pop. -A graveside service will be held at Cullman City Cemetery, Cullman, Alabama, Wednesday, July 27, at 10:00 A.M., followed by a receiving of friends in the fireside room at First Baptist Church Cullman. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church, Carrollton, Georgia, Saturday, July 30, at 3:00 P.M. -In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be contributed to the A. Brantley and Joanne B. Harwell Scholarship at McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, Atlanta, Georgia; the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions Offering; St. James Episcopal Church, Clayton, Georgia (where Joanne currently serves as Minister of Music); and Clayton Baptist Church.