It is with great joy that we announce that Kevin Heath Harriel crossed over into the arms of his Savior on January 16, 2025. He lived fully with great vigor for 47 years. He fought a valiant battle with cancer that he ultimately won, and now he dances in perfect peace with all his family who preceded him in joining the Lord.
In 1996, he met the love of his life, but circumstances took them in different directions. In the years that followed, he served four tours of duty in the middle east, earned a master’s degree and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. But all his titles and accolades, the one he was most proud of was being father to Ty, Elizabeth, Emily and Nathan. They brought him unspeakable joy and anyone who knew him knew how absolutely proud he was to be the father of these four amazing souls.
25 years later, Heath randomly sent Jeanna a song, told her he loved her since the day they met, and the rest is a beautiful love story that “The Notebook” can’t hold a handle to.
Heath had a servant’s heart, helping young athletes connect with coaches and scouts for college scholarships. He was in the process of his master’s degree in social work, and he intended to teach ROTC in high school. He created a rugby league, taught ROTC at South Alabama, filled in as a rodeo clown, earned the title of aggravation champion more times than the family will admit, had perfect pitch and a beautiful singing voice and was a not-so-average skateboarder.
He lived every day with humor and joy and loved so hard his heart finally gave out. He made everyone feel safe, protected, appreciated and he was present in every moment for family, friends and even people he barely knew. His earthly presence will be missed, but his legacy of love will last forever.
Heath is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Lavon and Ruth Harriel; maternal grandparents, Elmer and Judy Amacker; father, Kevin Lavon Harriel; step-mother, Robin Harriel and aunt, Terry McWilliams.
Left to forever cherish his memory are his wife, Jeanna Norris; daughters, Emily Harriel and Elizabeth Guess; sons, Tyson "Ty" (Sarah) Harriel and Nathan Harriel; mother, Lynn Amacker and his brothers, Joshua Herndon and Michael Culpepper.
Funeral services, officiated by Reverend Jeff Easterling, will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at White Funeral Home in Poplarville at 2:00 pm. Friends are invited to join the family for visitation from noon until the service begins. Burial will immediately follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
