Franchelle Harrell, of Newport, departed this life on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the age of 97. She was born December 18, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Roscoe and Mary Nance. She was the second of three children. The family moved back to Arkansas when she was four years old.
Franchelle was a 1945 graduate of Newport High School and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Education from Arkansas State Teachers’ College in 1952. She started teaching at age 17 at Cow Lake in the Beedeville School District and continued teaching for 40 years. Because her husband’s job required that he move, she was privileged to work in several school districts. Franchelle taught in Star City, Searcy, West Point, Biggers-Reyno, and retired from Newport Special School in May 1987. One of her greatest joys was whenever a new teacher would tell her that she had inspired them to become a teacher.
Franchelle married her husband, Luther B. Harrell, on August 20, 1948, and they had 47 wonderful years together before his passing in 1995. As they raised their three children, they enjoyed camping, water skiing, swimming, and fishing. Later, after the children left the home, they gave up water sports and enjoyed playing golf. In 1975, Franchelle won the Ladies’ Golf Championship at the country club in Pocahontas.
Franchelle was a longtime member of the Holden Avenue Church of Christ, where she taught Sunday School and worked in Vacation Bible School for many years, served as ministry leader of the church library, and worked in the prison ministry.
Franchelle was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, where she served as president. She was also a lifetime member of the National and State Teachers Associations, and an active member of the Jackson County Retired Teachers Association, in which she served as secretary and later as treasurer. She was a member of the Iron Mountain Art Council and the Arkansas State University Patron Series.
Franchelle loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed playing golf, water aerobics, working with plants, and reading. She always had a book close by.
Franchelle is preceded in death by her husband, Luther B. Harrell; her sons, Charles R. Harrell and Robert P. Harrell; her brothers, James K. Nance and Richard Jackson (Jack) Nance; and her parents, Roscoe and Mary Nance. She is also preceded by her sister-in-law, Betty J. Nance; two nephews, James K. Nance II and Thomas Nance; a niece, Stephanie Moore; and great-niece and great-nephew, Kimberly May Nance and James K. Nance III.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Catherine Summers, of Jonesboro; and her grandchildren, J. Scott Harrell of Newport, Catherine Nichole Mann of Jonesboro, and Chad Harrell and Jessica of Houston, Texas; and nine great-grandchildren, Kaylee Harrell, Madison Harrell, Abigail Harrell, Liam Bradley, Stella Mann, Wilder Mann, Allen Harrell, Bettie Harrell, and Maggie Harrell; two great-great grandchildren, Lilee Elyda Mae Keehn and Jamison Elijah Sheedy. Franchelle is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Shirlene Nance of Blooming Grove, New York, and Vickie Nance of Cabot; a special niece and nephew, Richard Jackson Nance, Jr. and Sue, of Cedar Hills, Utah, and Melanie Anderson of Blooming Grove, New York; and her great-nieces and great-nephews, James Coe Nance and Leigh, of Jonesboro, John Benton Moore of Searcy, Chelsea Anderson of Blooming Gove, New York, and Claire Dangerfield and Spencer, of Searcy.
Honorary pallbearers are the elders and deacons of Holden Avenue Church of Christ.
Memorials may be made to Holden Avenue Church of Christ, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, or the memorial of your choice.
Arrangements made by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home.
