Raymond Harrell, Sr., offsprings

Raymond Harrell,  Sr., Offsprings

Raymond Harrell is the ninth child of Jasper Leon Harrell, Sr. and Josephine Doretha Richardson Harrell. He is the youngest son born to their union. His upbringing and education took place in Amite, Louisiana.  After graduating from West Side High School, he joined the military. Following his discharge from the Army, he returned to Amite for a while before moving to Kenner, Louisiana with his family. 

He and his former wife had two children together. As a legacy, he leaves behind grandkids and great-grandkids. Quiet by nature, he often spent a great deal of time alone. It was his nature to be neat and orderly, and he enjoyed everything to be in its proper place. He loved old school cars, as I recall.  His car was always kept clean at all times. Occasionally, he would take me to the store in the evening. I always receive delicious store-bought treats from him. Interestingly, I was the only one permitted to eat in the car, as I can recall now.  That's amazing! Right now, this means a great deal to me. There is no doubt in my mind that he did not permit some people to ride in his car, nor did he permit anyone to eat or drink in the vehicle. So I had to have a special place in his heart. There is something else that I can recall about him. He had a beautiful smile and kept his hair neat and cut all the time. 

Seeing his branch at the family reunion meant so much. I hadn't seen his son in a long time. I was happy he joined us with his son and granddaughter. Both his children Monteral and Raymond were there with their offsprings. Family gatherings hold unique significance as they provide an opportunity to reconnect and strengthen bonds with loved ones. These reunions become treasured moments where stories are passed down and relationships are rekindled, highlighting the enduring importance of family ties. 

Their electric green family reunion t-shirts indicated that they are descendants of Raymond Harrell, Sr. Each shirt featured a large, bold tree with branches representing various family members' names. I know many family members hasn't seen some of his offspring in a long time. Matter of fact that was the first time some actually met for the first time. 

After her father passed away, Monteral inherited his collection of photographs. Digital images of some of the photographs have been digitized by the Amite Genealogy Library in Amite, Louisiana. Some of them were also published in the book "Images of America" African Americans in Tangipaoha and St. Helena Parishes. It would make her father so proud to know that she handled them with great care and kept them safe. Monteral feels a deep connection to her father every time she looks at them. This is as if she is preserving their legacy and honoring their stories. These images are more than just pictures; they are tangible links to all our roots and the love passed down through the years.