1925
Chester
2012
Chester Bryant Purnell
October 19, 1925 — July 19, 2012
Laurinburg
Chester Bryant Purnell, Sr., 86, passed away Thursday, July 19, 2012.
Funeral service will be 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Joseph Temple AME Church officiated by the Rev. Kerry Rigsbee. Burial with Masonic and Military rites will follow in Hillside Memorial Park.
He is survived by his sons, Chester Purnell, Jr. (Louise) and George Purnell (Linda) of Laurinburg; his daughters, Carolyn Bailey (John) of Mays Landing, NJ, Cordella Walker and Minerva Lewis of Laurinburg, Doretha Bailey (Arger) of Charlotte and Linda Purnell of Columbia, SC; his sisters, Joan Mitchell and Gloria Nhambiu (John) of Philadelphia and Margaret Stevenson of Maryland; 16 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and 3 great, great grandchildren; special cousins, Delores Hennegan and Marie Patterson; and special friends, Barb Deweal and Nelson Williams..
Born October 19, 1925 in Wilmington, DE, he was a son of the late Rev. George and Gladys Brown Purnell. He graduated from Laurinburg Institute and served for two years in the US Navy during World War II.
Chester served for over 60 years as a brick mason, and had a hand in constructing or renovating many of Laurinburg's landmarks. He was an active member of Joseph Temple where he served as a Sunday school superintendent, teacher, trustee and was a former choir member. He was also a 33rd degree Mason, and was Past Master and the last charter member of Mount Scottish Lodge 188.
Chester also received the Family Leadership Award from NC Governor James Martin in 1990.
He enjoyed reading, especially Reader's Digest and the Holy Bible, and playing Scrabble. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Willie Ruth Purnell.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the McDougald Funeral Home Chapel.
Read Chester Purnell's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdougald.com.
Chester Bryant Purnell, Sr., 86, passed away Thursday, July 19, 2012.
Funeral service will be 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Joseph Temple AME Church officiated by the Rev. Kerry Rigsbee. Burial with Masonic and Military rites will follow in Hillside Memorial Park.
He is survived by his sons, Chester Purnell, Jr. (Louise) and George Purnell (Linda) of Laurinburg; his daughters, Carolyn Bailey (John) of Mays Landing, NJ, Cordella Walker and Minerva Lewis of Laurinburg, Doretha Bailey (Arger) of Charlotte and Linda Purnell of Columbia, SC; his sisters, Joan Mitchell and Gloria Nhambiu (John) of Philadelphia and Margaret Stevenson of Maryland; 16 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and 3 great, great grandchildren; special cousins, Delores Hennegan and Marie Patterson; and special friends, Barb Deweal and Nelson Williams..
Born October 19, 1925 in Wilmington, DE, he was a son of the late Rev. George and Gladys Brown Purnell. He graduated from Laurinburg Institute and served for two years in the US Navy during World War II.
Chester served for over 60 years as a brick mason, and had a hand in constructing or renovating many of Laurinburg's landmarks. He was an active member of Joseph Temple where he served as a Sunday school superintendent, teacher, trustee and was a former choir member. He was also a 33rd degree Mason, and was Past Master and the last charter member of Mount Scottish Lodge 188.
Chester also received the Family Leadership Award from NC Governor James Martin in 1990.
He enjoyed reading, especially Reader's Digest and the Holy Bible, and playing Scrabble. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Willie Ruth Purnell.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the McDougald Funeral Home Chapel.
Read Chester Purnell's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdougald.com.
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