Obituary – Glenn Devan Harvell

Published 10:53 am Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Glenn Devan Harvell, a former resident of Millers Ferry, ended his lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease on March 6. Glenn was born in Camden on Dec.10, 1949, to Lewis Devan Harvell and Nora Louise Dumas Harvell. 

As a young boy, he enjoyed being a Boy Scout, fishing and hunting with his dad and uncles and playing baseball with family and friends. He attended Wilcox County High School, graduating in 1968. Following high school, he attended trade school and worked in the Georgia carpet mill industry for the next ten years. He returned to Alabama, taking a position with the State Auditor’s Office. While working full time, he attended night school at AUM, earning a degree in accounting.  

Glenn was a well-known figure in the Auditor’s Office. He travelled the State, conducting inventory of each and every asset owned by the State. He loved traveling the State, from the Gulf Coast to the mountains of north Alabama. His stories of his travels were legendary. If you wonder whether you had ever met Glenn, then you didn’t — because you would remember him!  

Following his retirement from the State, Glenn developed a love for walking and hiking — specifically, the Appalachian Trail. Every July 4th holiday, he would head to north Georgia and join a group of fellow hikers and they would hike the trail for several weeks. Glenn was renowned for his storytelling, and you could be sure that fifty percent of every story was true!  Some of his favorite stories involved his travels along the Appalachian Trail, camping in hostels, dining with Amish families and once having to be carried from the mountain by a rescue team after having a medical emergency.

Glenn loved his family, his country and the people of Wilcox County. He never met a stranger and never forgot a face. He had a keen mind and a quirky sense of humor. Despite his gruff exterior (his long, shaggy grey beard and long hair), his floppy hat and Crocs, he was loving, kind, giving (to a fault) and genuinely cared for people. Even the children could see through his gruff exterior. One Christmas in Camden, he had all the local children following him around because they thought he was the “real” Santa Claus!  At our uncle’s funeral, the minister’s wife was convinced that he was “Glenn” of “Swamp People” fame!

Although he suffered for many years with Essential Tremors and later Parkinson’s Disease, he could be seen almost every day in Camden, enjoying the food and fellowship of his friends and fellow townspeople at Larry’s Drive In, Jackson’s Chicken or other local eateries. Glenn was pre-deceased by his grandfather, Lewis Elijah and Sadie Hope Morgan Harvell; Reuben Frederick and Nora Bell Harvell Dumas; parents, Lewis Devan and Nora Louise “Pete” Dumas Harvell and sister Judith Gail Harvell. He is survived by his son, Michael (Dedra) Harvell and grandchildren, Michaela, Skielar and Kristian, all of Gray, Georgia; daughter, Laura Harvell of Montgomery; sister, Susie Winters (Sam) of Greenville; nephew, Emory (Becky) Winters, great-nieces Charlotte and Nora and great-nephew Samuel, all of Huntsville; niece, Amy (Jacob) Bohannon and great-nephew, James Lewis Bohannon, all of Prattville.  He is also survived by a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins and the loving and caring staff of Georgiana Health and Rehabilitation, who took great care of him during his stay.

Glenn was ready to meet his maker. We’re just not sure if his Maker was ready to meet him!!!  Following his wishes, there will not be a funeral service. Glenn wanted a Celebration of Life, the good, old-fashioned Southern way — with a barbecue — specifically, a family celebration barbecue with all the trimmings! We will be hosting his Celebration of Life at a later date.  Instead of flowers, Glenn would hope that all of his friends and family would do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for someone in need. We will miss you, Glenn — you were truly one of a kind, and you will leave a trail of laughter and generosity. Happy trails, my brother.

For online condolences, please visit www.dunklinfh.com.