Joan Harrelson, 86, passed away at the BeeHive early on October 10, 2018. Joan had a quick wit and told people that she was not an old maid, but an unclaimed treasure. She was born on July 31, 1932 in Bruce, MS where her parents ran a grocery store until her father's classmate, Lewis Mallory, SR, Vice-President at Mississippi State during the 30's, 40's and 50's brought Mr. and Mrs. Harrelson to work in dining services at MSU.

Joan moved with her family to housing on the MSU campus where she and her sister became members of the campus brats. She attended Starkville Public Schools, graduating from Starkville High School in 1949. Joan was an outstanding tennis player, and drew the attention of MSU's Coach Sawyer who asked her to practice against his team members. Later, he asked her to join the travel team, but her parents refused to allow that since she would be the only girl.

After High School, Joan’s love for the field of Accounting led her to State College, but at that time women were denied acceptance into the accounting major. Therefore she took business and accounting courses, and she was an active member of Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA).

After graduating from State, Joan joined the accounting office in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. She continued with MAFES where she held the title payroll manager and remained in that position when they merged with the Extension Service. After working for the University for forty four years, she retired to help care for her parents.

During her life time in Starkville, Joan was very active at First Baptist Church. She worked as a seventh grade teacher for a number of years, then moved to the third grade department where she taught for another seven or eight years. When her health failed leaving her home-bound, she continued to serve her church by contacting shut ins and serving on the committee responsible for securing food for church family funerals.

Joan was an avid bulldog fan and held season tickets to football and basketball games. She was supportive of the M-Club, the MSU College of Business, and Zeta Tau Alpha alumna.

In their younger years Joan and her sister traveled to many exciting places on vacation, usually to see plays and musicals. They were also avid followers of the Miss Mississippi and the Miss America pageants, traveling to Vicksburg and to Atlantic City many times before later years when they watched the pageant on television.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents Jessie Howard Harrelson and Edith Stewart Harrelson, as well as her sister Dorothy Harrelson. She is survived by cousins Kenneth Harrelson (Janice) of West Point, MS; Robert Stewart (Shirley) of Calhoun City, MS; Mark Harrelson of Vardaman, MS; Susie Stewart (Ken), Louisville, MS; and long time family friend Jerry Inmon and family.

Visitation will be held Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m. Welch Funeral Home, with the funeral service following at 2:00 pm in the Welch Funeral Home chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Children's Building Fund, First Baptist Church, 106 East Lampkin Street, Starkville, MS 39759 or your charity of choice.