A minister, U. S. Army veteran and devoted husband and father, he leaves behind a legacy of courage, grace, good humor, Christian love -- and of a life well-lived.
He was pastor of the Church of Vincent, and also an employee of the Shelby County School System.
Matthew was born on July 13, 1979, in Selma, Alabama, the son of the Rev. Michael Harrell and the late Sandra Aldy Harrell. As a young boy, he kept his family entertained with his penchant for staying up all hours of the night, demanding to wear socks that were far too large for him, making up stories about tiny people living in the garage and disputing almost any factual statement any adult made to him. Mainly to annoy his family filled with University of Alabama fans, he became a life-long supporter of the Auburn Tigers.
Matthew was 1997 graduate of Opp High School, and after graduation served in the U.S. Army from 1997 to 2003. He was deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and also served in Kuwait and South Korea. He was inducted into the Order of the Spur in 2003 while stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, with the 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment.
Following his military service, he earned bachelors degrees in both psychology and business administration from Pittsburg State University.
After giving his life to God as a boy, Matthew accepted the call into the ministry when he was 22, and became a licensed minister with the United Pentecostal Church. While serving as an evangelist, he met Rebecca Raymond while ministering in Fort Scott, Kansas. They were married on June 11, 2005 in Fort Scott. Their son Elijah was born on April 14, 2006, and daughter Eliana was born on January 8, 2008, and no father was ever more proud of his children.
Matthew became pastor of the Church of Vincent in January 2014, and led that congregation until his passing.
Matthew was preceded in death by his mother, Sandra Aldy Harrell. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and two children, Elijah and Eliana; his father Michael Harrell of Opp; his sister and brother-in-law Becky and J.J. Glass of Fairhope, Alabama; his brother and sister-in-law Barry and Carrie Harrell of Mountain City, Texas; nephew Landon Grimes of Birmingham; uncle Mark Aldy of Birmingham; uncle Bill Aldy and his wife Yvette of Batesville, Mississippi; aunt Carolyn Gowan and her husband Buddy of Philadelphia, Mississippi; aunt Cathryn Harrell Tullos and her husband Jesse of Pawley's Island, S.C.; and numerous cousins and other extended family members; as well as Rebecca’s parents and siblings in Kansas.
Funeral Service will be held on Monday, May 11 at 3:00 p.m. at The Church of Vincent. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Church. Graveside service will be held on Tuesday, May 12 at 12:30 p.m. at New Live Oak Cemetery in Selma.
Condolences may be offered to the Harrell family online at www.kilgroefh.com
Kilgroe Funeral Home – Pell City will direct the service
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