Mozelle LaVera Purcell

Mrs. Mozelle LaVera
Massey Purcell, age 99, of
Toccoa, passed away
Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at
her home.
Mozelle was born May
4, 1926, in Franklin Coun-
ty, Georgia. She was the
daughter of the late Hu-
bert Paul Massey and Ovis
Wilmer Murphy Massey.
She was preceded in death
by her sister, Mary Pearl
Massey Skelton, husband,
Lewis, and her late broth-
er, Earnest Ray Massey.
Mozelle lived in
Franklin County until her
junior year in high school,
at which time she and her
family moved to Stephens
County. She graduated
from Toccoa High School
in 1944. She married her
high school sweetheart,
Lauren D. Purcell, in 1944
after which she attended
Marsh Business College in
Atlanta while he served in
World War II. After at-
tending business school,
she worked for Le-
Tourneau Westinghouse
Company. After Lauren's
return from service, to-
gether they owned and op-
erated Auto Parts and
Equipment Company for
48 years. They also owned
and operated Auto Parts
and Equipment Company
in Hartwell, Georgia for 28
years. They were married
for 50 years.
Mozelle was a member
of Ebenezer Baptist
Church. She served as a
teacher in a Girl's Sunday
School Class, Baptist
Training Union Class, and
Girls in Action, and was
the director of the Wom-
en's Missionary Union for
a period of time. Mozelle
was also a member of the
Naomi Sunday School
Class.
Family members in-
clude her sons, David
Michael Purcell (Cathy)
and Tommy Lee Purcell
(Rebecca); grandchildren,
Melanie Purcell Lee
(Chuck), Brittany Purcell,
Zane Purcell and Anna
Purcell Smith (Darren);
and great-grandchildren,
Kennedy Lee and Peyton
Lee.
The family received
friends at the mortuary
from 12-1:30 p.m. Wednes-
day, Nov. 5, 2025.
Funeral services were
held at 2 p.m. Wednesday,
Nov. 5, 2025, at Ebenezer
Baptist Church with Dr.
Fred Lodge officiating.
Burial followed at
Stephens Memorial Gar-
dens.
The following gentle-
men served as pallbearers:
Tony Carter, Gary
Matthews, Don Baldwin,
Larry Carter, Sam Caudell
and Glenn Jordan.
The family would like
to extend special, heartfelt
love and deep appreciation
to the most extraordinary
caregivers who loved
Mozelle very much. They
are: Kristi Hicks, Candace
Yearwood, Audrey York,
Kaitlyn Wegner (Goldi),
Rylee McIntyre and Mi-
caela Nadeau.
Flowers are optional.
Memorial donations may
be made to Ebenezer Bap-
tist Church, 49 Rose Lane,
Toccoa, Georgia 30577.
Please keep the family
in your thoughts and
prayers and sign the on-
line guestbook at
www.whitlockmortu-
ary.net.
Whitlock Mortuary, Fu-
nerals and Cremations is
honored to be serving the
family of Mrs. Mozelle
LaVera Massey Purcell.