Wardell Harris

CAHABA MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL: Announce with deepest sympathy the passing of Mr. Wardell Harris on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

WARDELL'S LIFE STORY: Wardell Harris, 82 years of age, passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Brookwood Medical Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama.
Wardell was born May 7, 1943, in Montgomery, Alabama to the late David Earl (Fess) and Iola Olivia Brazzell Harris. Wardel was the only child born to this union. His Christian
experience began early in life when he accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized by the late C.A. Perry and joined the Mt. Ebell Baptist Church of Brent, AL. There he
participated in all activities for the children and teenagers until moving to Toledo, OH. After moving to Toledo, he became a member of Braden Methodist Church and
continued to work with the youth through his adult life. Wardell was an elder and faithful member of his beloved church until he relocated back to Alabama. In addition, he
was a member of the Clarence Smith Community Chorus of Toledo. When he moved back to the Brent/Centreville area of Alabama, he joined the Pleasant Sabine Baptist Church
and continued his pattern of working in the church. As a member there he worked in the positions of Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Sunday School Superintendent and
teacher, Asst. Secretary, Deacon and sang in the choir. He was educated in the Bibb County School system until he reached the nineth grade. After completing the nineth grade,
he and his mother moved to Toledo, Ohio, his father joined them a few years later. Wardell attended the Jesup W. Scott High School in Toledo and graduated in 1961. After high
school he attended Detroit Institute of Musical Arts for a year and spent several years serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. Wardell met Mattie Sumner and the two were married in
1972. Mattie’s three boys soon became Wardell’s three boys, Darryl (deceased), Donald and Andre. Wardell’s life in Toledo was all but boring. He had learned to play the trumpet as a member of Booker T. Washington High School Band in Montgomery, AL., while still a student at the Faucett Jr. High School in Brent, AL. He was a savvy musician, and this musical background led him to
managing several popular bands in the Toledo and surrounding areas. He was fondly referred to by the nickname, “Derk”, by his friends in the music community. He was also successful in starting a Bar-B-Que restaurant in Toledo and continued the tradition by starting a Hickory smoked barbecue Wing & Bar-B-Que restaurant in Brent, AL. He loved and participated in an array of things: his favorite was working in the church where he held several positions throughout his lifetime; his love of fishing (being and avid angler) and eating the fish as well; cooking his favorite, delicious barbeque; his job at Wal-Mart; and his ever-present interest in the youth of Genesis’ Neighborhood House. Preceded his death were: his parents David and Lola Harris,
his wife Mattie Sumner Daniel, one son by marriage, Darryle Ballard, two sisters, Yvonne Acoff and Juanita Harris of Gary, IN. To cherish his memories are: a devoted son by marriage,
Andre (Sherrie) Ballard, Corpus Christi, TX, and Donald Ballard of Toledo, OH; three grandchildren, A. Christorpher (Corrine) Ballard, Jr., and Aaron (Kara) Ballard of
Mount Vernon, OH, and Amber (William) Vaughn of Murfreesboro, TN and 9 great grandchildren; devoted first cousins, Vincent Randell (Stephanie) Randall of Randolph,
AL, Emma Brown of Auburn, AL and Dr. Gwendolyn (Willie “Pete”) Valentine of Brent, AL; and a very special friend William, fondly known as “Big Motor” (Serena)
Hutchinson of Brent, AL; a host of first cousins, cousins, other family members and friends.

PUBLIC VIEWING: Friday, April 24, 2026 From 12:00 Noon To 4:00 PM at Cahaba Memorial Funeral Chapel in Brent, Alabama

FUNERAL SERVICE: Saturday, April 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM  Pleasant Sabine Baptist Church Centreville, Alabama Rev. Larry Moultrie, Officiating Pastor

INTERMENT: Church Cemetery

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