Janice Forrester Harrell

ROCKY MOUNT, NC - Janice Forrester Harrell, age 73, passed away on March 8, 2018. She was the beloved wife of Dr. Evans E. Harrell, her husband of 49 years, and the beloved mother of Dr. Waverly Harrell of Durham, NC. Born in Hampton, Virginia, where her father was stationed during World War II. Jan grew up in Jacksonville and Ocala, Florida. She was the eldest daughter of Edward John Henry Forrester and Clare Warnock Forrester. Graduating from high school, she stated her ambition as "to travel and write and write and travel," and she was blessed with the ability to meet those ambitions. She was granted a full scholarship to Florida Presbyterian College (now Eckerd College), and after earning a Ph.D. in 18th century English literature at the University of Florida and teaching as a lecturer at several colleges, she took up commercial fiction and published over 50 books. These included two adult mysteries and many novels for young adults, including a bestselling vampire series. She met Evans Harrell at a New Year's Eve party in 1968, and they were so taken with each other that they shortly began to plan a future together and married March 26, 1969. Despite their short courtship, the couple were remarkably well matched and were blessed with a long and happy marriage. Jan fell in love with travel after spending a summer at the University of Sussex during college. She traveled with her husband to France during their early marriage and they were so eager to return that they took their daughter for her 6th birthday. After Jan sold her first book, she fulfilled her dream of seeing the pyramids. With her family she traveled widely across Europe, indulging her fondness for art museums and her husband's for cathedrals, as well as to Kenya, South and Central America and China. Descending from a long line of political progressives, Jan also worked throughout her life on behalf of liberal causes and candidates. As a college student, appalled by the destructiveness of the Vietnam war, she organized and led a peace march. She worked with children at Head Start when she was in the racial minority, and she later tutored underprivileged students at Williford Elementary School in Rocky Mount and volunteered for numerous political campaigns, notably the Senate campaign of Erskine Bowles, who wrote her a personal letter of appreciation. A longtime member of the Good Shepherd choir, she had a lovely soprano voice and sang many solos there. She was a fine photographer who never tired of photographing her family and sometimes got a bit too close to wild animals in search of a good picture. Survivors include her granddaughter, Eleanor Emily Harrell; two sisters, Geneva Forrester of Gainesville, Florida, and Julia P. Forrester of Tallahassee, Florida; and a nephew, William Forrester Taber, also of Tallahassee. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 231 N. Church Street, Rocky Mount, with the Rev. Matthew Johnson officiating. Ashes will be placed in the columbarium at the church. The family wishes to express appreciation for the excellent care Jan received during her long illness, particularly from Twona Collins, Helen Moss, Doris Mitchell, and Maxine Cherry. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 231 N. Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, or to Eckerd College, Office of Advancement, 4200 54th Ave. South, Street, Petersburg, FL 33711. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Service Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church 231 N. Church Street Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-442-1134 --> | Saturday 3/24, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 231 N. Church Street, Rocky Mount, with the Rev. Matthew Johnson officiating. Ashes will be placed in the columbarium at the church.