Zebulon Vance Harrell

The Rev. Vance Harrell, 66, of the Thunder Swamp area near Mount Olive, was welcomed into glory Thursday afternoon, December 15. God's angels came for him as he was being lovingly cared for at SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, with his wife and children at his bedside. Zebulon Vance Harrell, a "Thunder Swamp" native son, was "raised up" in the house-moving business, with his family operating Harrell's House Moving. He graduated from Southern Wayne High School in 1969, and married his beloved Sandra the following year. Yielding to God's call to become a minister, he studied religion and theology at Carter Bible College in Goldsboro for four years to prepare himself for what would become a 33 year tenure of ministerial service. He was a member of the North Carolina conference of Pentecostal Holiness Churches. He and his wife were fortunate to have pastored seven loving congregations which include Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church, his home church, and it was from here that he retired due to health concerns. With his ability to "put himself" on everyone's level and his easy-going manner, he was endeared to the hearts of many. While his pastoral duties took him away from the house-moving scene, his passion for it never waned. Services to celebrate Vance's Heavenly Promotion will be Sunday December 18 at 2 pm at Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church. Officiating will be the Rev. Jonathan Altman, Bishop Danny Nelson and Bishop Jimmy Whitfield. Interment will follow at Wayne Memorial Park. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Saturday, December 17 at Tyndall Funeral Home, and at other times, friends and family are most welcome at the residence. Brother Harrell is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sandra Herring Harrell, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Vann and Jennifer Harrell of Clayton; a daughter, Hannah Harrell of Charlotte; a beloved grandson, the apple of his eye, and also the third to carry forth his name, Zeb Harrell, of Clayton; two sisters, Alice Harrell Baumann of Kenansville and Sheila Harrell of Mount Olive; a brother and sister-in-law, Mark and Sheila Harrell of Mount Olive; another sister-in-law, Ramona Harrell of Mount Olive, widow of deceased brother, Rufus Barron Harrell; several nieces; and Sandra's siblings and their families (the Louis and Hazel Herring family). He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Crystal Dawn Harrell; his parents, Wilbur and Margaret Harrell; brother, Barron; and a nephew. A Tyndall Service.