Sallie Harrelson McFarland

Published 8:55 am Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Sallie Harrelson McFarland was born Oct. 9, 1935 in Crossville and passed away Sept. 30 in Birmingham.

She is survived by one daughter, Becky McFarland, and many beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, John Robert McFarland, her parents Wallace and Zuma Harrelson, and her three brothers: Jay Barnard (Kit) Harrelson;  Royal (Margaret) Harrelson, and Wendell (Mary) Harrelson.

Sallie was a long-time resident of Selma and was an active member of First Baptist Church.  She taught a Sunday School class for a number of years. She was a member of the Gideon Auxiliary of Gideon’s International. Sallie loved to laugh and had a servant’s heart. She accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was a young girl growing up in Crossville. Her relationship with the Lord was the most important aspect of her life and she tried to show the love of Christ by ministering to people in need. She shared the message that God wants to reach each and every person, and He provided a means of reconciliation through His son. She was employed as a contract worker with the Dallas County Department of Human Resources for 14 years. She worked as the coordinator for the Indo-Chinese refugee program and later served as the coordinator for the Dallas County Council for Child Protection as well as the director of the Volunteers in Child Abuse Prevention program. The family is especially grateful to the devoted care provided by Eloise Burt, Latonia Fluker, Yvonne Hardy, Evelyn Moye and Susan Brooks and her team at Pro Health Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to Gideons International. A graveside service will be held Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. at Elmwood Cemetery with Rev. Lee Tate officiating.