Lounell Strickland Harwell, aged 87, was born in Carroll County April 14, 1936, the daughter of the late Kermit and Ellen Josephine Fielder Strickland. She lived the vast majority of her life in Carroll County where she met her husband Bobby leading to his proposal, November 27, 1954, at the Green Front Café in Carrollton. They would eventually marry in her parent's home in Mount Zion on July 29, 1955 with Shirley Jo Perry of Muscadine, Alabama as her maid of honor. The couple celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2015 prior to his death.

She graduated from Mount Zion High School in 1954, earning Salutatorian honors and having 12 years of perfect attendance. During those years she was the Class President in 1952, worked on the yearbook staff was in National Beta Club, FHA Club and FFA Club and was a 8th grade cheerleader. She played 8th grade, B-Team and varsity basketball and softball leading as Captain and Co-Captain and being inducted into the Mount Zion Hall of Fame.

Lounell began her career just like many others, working at the Hubbard Company of Bremen. Lounell and Bobby moved to Dalton and with the financial support of family friends, she studied at Herrin's School of Business in Dalton, Georgia and taking continuing education banking classes at West Georgia College while employed at Hardwick Bank & Trust in Dalton. She joined Carrollton Federal Savings & Loan beginning as a teller and working there for over 10 years supporting Frank Searcy and A.R. McGukin and the managing directors. She joined the staff of The People's Bank of Carrollton, which merged with C&S Sovran and Nations Bank and retired as a personal banker at Bank of America in 1994. Her expertise earned her many customers and supporters in the local banking community including Fred Hutchins and regionally like Bennett A. Brown, Chairman of The Citizens & Southern National Bank. During this time, her biggest supporter was her husband Bobby, who had joined the Army, returned home after his father's death to help his mother support their large family. His career included Colonial Grocery Store and Gulf Life Insurance after which he later forming Tri-County Insurance Agencies and merging with J. Smith Lanier & Company (now Marsh & McLennon). All of his accomplishments would never have been possible without Lounell's support both in their business and personal lives.

She was a member of The First Baptist Church of Carrollton after being baptized on January 17th, 1960 by Rev. Howard Benson. She relied heavily on her faith and members and staff of her church, even after being unable to attend services. It was through the First Baptist that she met many of her core lifelong friends.

While she and Bobby traveled all over the world during their marriage, her favorite places to go were the trips to the north Georgia mountains to get apples, visiting antique shops, Gulf Coast and Daytona area beaches, Sea Island and Jekyll Island. She thrived in fancy condominium settings but was just as happy in a kitchenette motel near the sand and autumn fall leaves. She also loved going to thrift shops and Goodwill searching for things to make their lives happier. Lounell grew up a country girl and never lost her love for home grown garden vegetables and would teach you how to cook them if she thought you needed help. She played golf with her friends at Sunset Hills C.C., scoring in the 90's on many occasions. She may have enjoyed the social part, but she was competitive and wanted to win too. She and Bobby lived all over Carrollton never missing a chance to move and helping remodel and decorate their homes.

Her friends became part of her extended family.

She is survived by her sons and family: Barry Harwell of Carrollton, Ga; granddaughter Brooke Harwell, great grandchildren Porter Watts Nelson, Hank Harwell and Pete Cofer Harwell of Peachtree City, Ga. Blane (Sheila) Harwell of Carrollton, Elijah, Isaiah, Mariah, Maleiah and Jaden Spurgeon of Armuchee, Ga; Brother: Jimmy Kermit Strickland of Mount Zion, Ga. Vickie Burnham & Family; Sister: Sandra (John) Strickland Lepard of Waco, GA: Steven Lepard & Family: Starla Watts & Family

Honorary Pallbearers: Peggy Kendrick, Pat Grimes, Annette Jones, Joyce Paulk, Judy Silvey, Scarlet Lanier, Willie Nell Smith, Betty Cason McKenzie, Brenda Creel, Diane Wiggins, Elizabeth Basil, Pat Binion, Ashley Dycus, Shirley Huddleston, Melba Adams, Brenda Gayle Tyson, Mickey Hardegree, Stephanie Bannister, Susan Mashburn, Rita Miller, Charlsie Dix, Joann Smith, Sue Stamps, Joann Strickland(Deceased), Barbara Prather(Deceased)

Friends, Staff and Residents of Laurel Glen of Carrollton.

Memorial Service will be held Sunday, November 19th, 3:00pm from the chapel of Almon Funeral Home with Rev. Henry Tyson officiating. Internment will be at Carroll Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations of support may be made to First Baptist Church of Carrollton, 102 Dixie Street, Carrollton Ga. 30117 and Sacred Journey Hospice, 125 Oak Hill Blvd, Newnan, Ga 30265.

Messages of condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com

Almon Funeral Home has charge of all arrangements.