Julia Harrell

Julia Nell Anderson Rush Harrell, 77, of Hickory, NC, and formerly of Atlanta, GA, passed away peacefully with family at her side on Thursday, December 7, 2017. Julia was the owner of -julia rush- Fine Crafts and was a well-known potter, jewelry designer, jazz and blues singer and performer, writer and publisher and an avid supporter of Downtown Hickory and “everything art.”   Born on June 7, 1940 in Fort Wayne, IN, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Dorothy McCulloch Anderson of Fort Wayne, IN and Tucson, AZ. She was proceeded in death by husband Beemer Clifford Harrell of Hickory, maternal grandparents Dr. John and Nell Jewell McCulloch and paternal grandparents Gustave and Ellen Liven Anderson.   Survivors include Julia’s partner Arne Troelstra of Anderson, SC; son David Rush and wife Cassie of Boone along with granddaughter Amber Stevens and great-grandson Jacob Ellis of West Jefferson; daughter Barbara Rush Early and husband Phil along with grandson Anderson Drew Cline of Hickory and granddaughters Kelli Early and Libby Early Clark with husband Jon and great-grandaughter Evie all of Winston Salem, stepdaughters Sally Harrell Gebler and husband Tom of Sedona, AZ and Madeline Harrell Ryan of Carrboro; sister Ellen Liven Anderson Atkins of Columbia, MO, niece Beth Perra and partner Jenny Locke along with great nephews Conor and Jacque and great neices Ginger and Quincy; nephew Brian Sweeney and wife Vera along with great nieces Allison and Megan and great nephew John.   Services will be held on Friday, December 15 at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Hickory beginning at 2:30 p.m. with the Committal of Ashes in the church garden. Those attending are asked to meet in the church barn at 2:25 p.m. A service celebrating Julia’s life will begin at 3 p.m. followed by a reception in parish house. Overflow parking will be available from 2:30 until 4 p.m. at the Church of the Latter Day Saints with transportation provided to and from St. Alban’s. Julia requested that those who wish please wear purple and in lieu of flowers to please send a gift in her memory to the nonprofit organizations she loved and supported. For her love of everything art, please send a memorial to the United Arts Council of Catawba County and/or the Hickory Museum of Art at 243 Third Avenue NE Hickory, NC 28601. For her love of music and the performing arts, please send a memorial to the Hickory Community Theater at 30 Third Street NW, Hickory, NC 28601. For her love of helping community and others, please send a memorial to Exodus Homes at 122 8th Avenue SW, Hickory, NC 28602. To celebrate the joy she found through her church and by singing with the church choir, please send a memorial to the St. Alban’s choir at 130 39th Avenue Place NW, Hickory, NC 28601 and/or St. James Episcopal Church choir at 424 West State Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711. A memorial gift can also be sent to support the Congregational Care Team at Discovery Church located at 2201 Startown Road, Newton, NC 28658 in appreciation of the love and support they provided to Julia and her family during her illness.  Jenkins Funeral Home and friends from HCT, HMA, Discovery and St. Alban's are all assisting the family.