Bernard Murrell Obituary

MURRELL, Bernard Bernard J. Pinda Murrell entered into eternal rest on the morning of August 5, 2008, in Carolina Hospital System. He resided in Elmcroft Assisted Living, in Florence, SC and was formerly of Charleston, SC. The relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service, Thursday, August 7, 2008 at eleven o'clock in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL. Interment, Live Oak Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at Stuhr's Downtown Chapel Wednesday between five and seven o'clock. Mr. Murrell was born November 11, 1929 in Charleston, SC, the son of John Murrell and Ellen Brinson Murrell. He was a graduate of High School of Charleston and a member of Citadel Square Baptist Church, American Legion Post #147, Charleston Elks Lodge #242 and the Sumter Guards. He retired from the Charleston Naval Shipyard as a Progressman. In 1947, he enlisted in Company B 1/118th Infantry, SC Army National Guard, the active company of the Washington Light Infantry, where he served until his retirement. During his enlistments, he served in practically all of the enlisted ranks and positions, to include his promotion to Master Sgt. (Rifle and Weapons Platoon Sgt.) In 1955, he was presented the Non Commissioned Officer of The Year ring from the WLI for his outstanding Non Commissioned Officer work. He was a member of the Small Bore Rifle Team which won the State Championship Title for five consecutive years. He received the Expert Marksmanship Awards for rifle and pistol, as well as, State and Federal service medals and the Guardsman Retirement Medal. As a WLI Soldier, he was a member of the Battalion Staff and served on many committees to include the Colation and Uniform Committees where he served as chairman. Representing the WLI, the State of SC and the South Carolina Army Reserve National Guard, each state sent a Non Commissioned Officer to represent them and he carried the SC State Flag in all functions of the celebration in Washington, DC. As a WLI member, he represented them in many functions of the Centennial Legion of Historic Military Commands, in which the WLI was a charter member, to include functions in all of the thirteen original colonies. He retired from Company B 1/118th Infantry SC Army Reserve National Guard and served in the Washington Light Infantry for sixty plus years. He is survived by two sisters: Toni M. Stramm and her husband Augie of James Island, SC and Lirle Virginia Lee of Scranton, SC; three nieces: Dale G. Rochester of Gainesville, GA, Carol Keen of Waynesboro, GA and Diane Baxley of Scranton, SC; two nephews: Kenny Stramm of Summerville, SC and Johnny Lee of Scranton, SC; and a number of great nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Washington Light Infantry, 287 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.