Grace Lane Harrell, 102, of Givens Health Center passed away, Monday, October 23, 2017, in Asheville, NC.  She was born February 2, 1915, in Macon County, AL, to Dr Robert Lee Lane and Nellie Grace Gardiner.  Her grandparents were Wylie Sterling Lane and Nancy Elizabeth Germany, of LaGrange, GA; and Leander Franklin Gardiner and Alice Anna Palmer of Boston, MA. She grew up on Laurel Hill Plantation, and graduated from Tuskegee High School in 1930.  She graduated from Alabama College for Women, Montevallo, AL, in 1934, and taught school for two years in Brewton, AL.  She married Walter H. Harrell, Jr., on December 29, 1938.

She was predeceased by her husband, Walter; her daughter Penelope  H. Miller; and her brother, Robert Lee Lane, Jr.

She is survived by her daughter, Ginger Cannon (Roy) of Lakeland, FL; son-in-law Jerry Miller of Murphy, NC; and four grandsons, R. Dean Cannon, Jr. (Ellen); Brooke Henry Stuart (Lori); Christopher Charles Stuart (Lisa), and Dr. Sterling Lane Cannon (Heather).  Survivors include nine great-grandchildren: R. Dean Cannon III, Katherine and Sarah Cannon of Tallahassee, FL; Katherine, Grafton and Benton Stuart of St. Petersburg, FL; and Lane, Wylie and Isabel Cannon of Columbus, GA.

Grace has been a life-long Methodist serving  churches as a Sunday School teacher for 55 years, and with Walter, leading Methodist Youth Fellowship in Lakeland in the late 1940’s and 1950’s. Grace was active in United Methodist Women and Wesleyan Service Guild.

During her time in Lakeland (1944-1961) Grace was president of Delta Kappa Gamma, president of American Association of University Women, and president of Classroom Teachers of Polk County, FL.

Grace was a life-long Democrat, beginning in college, and as a part of student government activities had tea with Eleanor Roosevelt at Christmastime of 1933.  She was  recognized for her efforts on behalf of Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign, and served as a member of his national committee.

She and Walter retired to Franklin NC in 1978 where they were once again active in church and educational activities, tutoring middle school students and working on Habitat for Humanities houses.  They moved to Givens Estates in 1995 in Asheville, NC, and were both active in Skyland United Methodist Church as long as they were able. 

A celebration of Grace’s life will be held at First United Methodist Church Chapel, (72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL, 33801), November 11, 2017, at 2 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Children’s Clothes Closet at First Methodist would be in keeping with Grace’s commitment to children and youth.  The family is grateful for the years of loving care given Grace and Walter by the personnel at Givens Estates; for the compassionate services of Four Seasons Hospice; and for Asheville Mortuary Services.

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