Billy Burrell

Billy Burrell was born August 25, 1932, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, to Vernon Frank Burrell and Lucille (Shelley) Burrell. He married the love of his life, Lady Rachel McLendon, on May 18, 1951, and they were married for 61 years before his passing on January 6, 2013.

He received the Holy Ghost on Saturday, October 27, 1951, at the church W.E. Gamblin pastored in Richland (Plain), Mississippi. On Sunday, October 28, 1951, he was baptized in Jesus name at the gravel pit. As he was being baptized, Lady Rachel was there watching and praying. She was filled with the Holy Ghost, and she was baptized that day as well.

Billy accepted the call to the ministry in the early 1960s. He would preach whenever he was called on by other ministers. He preached for churches in Thomastown, Kosciusko, and New Hebron, helping them while they were without a pastor. He was always willing to do whatever he could to further the Kingdom of God.

James F. Nations said, “When I pastored at Bethel Temple in Brookhaven, several times Billy Burrell would preach for me. He was a great preacher and played the guitar and sang with his wife, Lady Rachel.

He pastored the Richland (Plain) United Pentecostal Church for approximately 7½ years. They then started attending First Pentecostal Church in Jackson, pastored by T.L. Craft. They attended church there for approximately four years, and while there, he taught the Young Married Class. After this, they pastored at Jesus Name Tabernacle in Seminary and pastored there for approximately 21 years.

In 1993, after retiring from pastoring, he became a member of New Chapel United Pentecostal Church in Collins. While at New Chapel, he was the Missions Director and ministered often for the pastor at various times. Billy Burrell was a man who loved God, his family, and his home church. He loved to discuss the Word of God, though never for an argument or a debate, but for a deeper understanding.

Pastor Rodney Bankens stated, “I was not privileged to have known Billy Burrell back in his younger years and even during his time of pastoring. I met him when I became the pastor at New Chapel UPC in July 2004. He told me of the change that came over his life after he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. One thing I can tell you about this wonderful man is he was a gentle giant.”

When I first came to New Chapel, he was seated on the platform as one of the ministers of the church. He came to me the first Sunday night after I was elected and introduced himself. He told me that he would take himself off the platform until such a time I deemed it right for him to be up there with me. I told him, “No sir, I want you to sit up there beside me and participate in our services.”

One thing I loved about this wonderful man was that he was a man with a great sense of humor. He loved a good, clean joke or funny story. He would smile so big and even laugh out loud about a good joke or funny story.”

Billy Burrell loved God, and he loved to preach the Word of God. He never got tired of talking about his love for this great message of truth that he preached so well. Billy Burrell was loved by all, as his gentle nature caused all who knew him to love him.

He was A GENTLE GIANT OF THE GOSPEL who lived among us!