Joella Sue Harrell Rice 

August 25, 1934 – December 22, 2025

Joella was born August 25, 1934, in Levelland, Texas and is now celebrating in heaven after meeting her Lord and Savior on December 22, 2025, in Katy, Texas. Joella was born and raised on a cotton farm outside of Levelland. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at the age of six when she heard Him call her name two times before she responded. She graduated from Levelland High School at the age of sixteen and then graduated from Texas Tech with a major in Journalism. But God had different plans and lead her to begin teaching English in Andrews, Texas. When she moved to Beaumont, Texas, Joella had the opportunity to teach in the summer Head Start program and decided to pursue her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She definitely found her calling as a Special Education teacher as she impacted the young minds and hearts that entered her classroom. Throughout her career, Joella enjoyed the many friendships gained through teaching and her involvement in the Alpha Delta Kappa (ADK) organization that brought her much joy & laughter. After retirement, her call to teach continued as Joella taught ESL at the public library and through the International Ministry at her church. Above all else, Joella would say her proudest accomplishment was raising her three girls.

Joella was a loving, devoted, caring, courageous, compassionate, and encouraging daughter, sister, friend, and mother. Joella was always helping others and loved sharing Jesus with anyone that would listen. That was a mission of hers. She continued the family legacy by teaching all three of her girls about Jesus and His love and shared with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Joella enjoyed reading and studying the Bible daily and participated in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) for years and loved inviting friends to join her. Sharing the daily devotional with her early morning texts was a simple way for her to show how much she cared for you.

Joella loved to read, crochet, cross-stitch, bake, play the piano, sew, garden, work jigsaw puzzles with her girls and grandchildren, watch Texas Tech football and basketball, play dominoes and Rummikub, work sudoku and crossword puzzles and play card games. In her last years, Phase 10 became her favorite card game, and she was always up for playing when family came to visit. Joella would play bingo all day long if she could, she rarely played with just one card and preferred to play with 4-8 cards when they let her, and she loved to yell “BINGO”. Joella enjoyed genealogy research as she documented her ancestry to become a member of the National Society Daughters of American Revolution (NSDAR) and remained active until moving to Katy. She was eager to join any adventures and loved traveling with family, friends, and her church group. Joella was a loyal friend and had many close friends throughout the years and seasons of life. She found a sweet community of friends at Calvary Baptist Church that became her family when she became an empty nester.

Joella’s devoted parents, stillborn sister Gwen Lanelle, and sister-in-law Patricia were received to their heavenly home in years prior. She is survived by her three daughters: Charla (Buddy) of Katy, Karen (Kent) of Dallas-Fort Worth, Debra (Hal) of Katy. Joella adored each of her grandchildren and treasured her time with Trey (Hanna), Rebecca Jo (Jared), Emma Grace, Drew, and Jacob. She was excited to have five great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Cooper, Addison, Ella, and Beau. Joella was blessed with two loving and supportive brothers: Dr. R.K. Harrell (Ronne) and Dr. C. H. Harrell, who have survived her along with one uncle, a nephew, nieces, and cousins.

There is nothing Joella would love more than for each of you to have a close, personal relationship with Jesus just like she did. The best way we can all honor our mother, Joella, is to grow in our faith.

A Celebration of Life will be held at LaBrie Claybar Funeral Home, 1155 N 11th Street Beaumont, Texas 77702 on Saturday, January 10, 2026, with visitation at 12:30 pm and service at 2pm, followed by a graveside service.

We are deeply grateful for the care and love that the staff at Larry’s Lakehouse of Katy gave mom in the past several months.

If you feel led to honor Joella by helping others, donations can be made in her name to Calvary Baptist Church – Joella Rice Memorial Fund or World Vision in honor of Joella.

Steps to make donations in honor of Joella:

• 1) Make checks payable to Calvary Baptist Church (include “Joella Rice Memorial Fund” in the memo) and mail to: Calvary Baptist Church ATTN: Joella Rice Memorial Fund 3650 Dowlen Rd Beaumont, TX 77706

1. 2) World vision – donate.worldvision.org

2. Select your donation amount, “give now,” “View basket and checkout”

Check the box “Send a free card to honor someone” and “Begin checkout.”

Address to send the donation notification card to:

J. Rice Memorial

1247 Rustic Knolls Dr

Katy, TX 77450