A native of Tryon, she was born on Nov. 28, 1917 to the late Mark William and Mabel Pace Burrell. She was preceded in death by four brothers, William Mark Burrell, Alvin &dquo;Bud&dquo; Burrell, Coit and wife, Pauline Summey Burrell, Archie and wife, Dorothy Currie Burrell; four sisters, Lucy and husband, Gene Gosnell, Nellie Burrell, Evelyn Burrell Flynn, and Alma &dquo;Sis&dquo; and husband, David Daniel Walker, and one niece, Coy &dquo;Skeeter&dquo; Burrell Campbell.

Miss Burrell graduated as valedictorian of Tryon High School and was the first in her family of 11 children to attend college. She received her AB degree in 1941 from UNC-Greensboro and began her teaching career at Lowell High School, Lowell. She also taught at Saluda High School, Saluda. In 1946, she moved to Rutherfordton and taught biology and science at R-S Central High, retiring in 1975 after teaching 34 years.&bsp; She served in an additional role as the advisor for the R-S Central yearbook, &dquo;Skyliner.&dquo;

She was a loving and caring lady. She loved flowers and enjoyed working in her garden. She was a member of the Isothermal Garden Club of Rutherfordton and Rutherford Hospital Auxiliary. She attended the First United Methodist Church of Rutherfordton and was a member of the Mountain Valley P.H. Church of Tryon.

Miss Burrell is survived by a sister, Lula Burrell of Tryon; one brother, Lee Mark Burrell and wife, Elizabeth Stott Burrell of Stott&squo;s Corner in Polk County; one brother-in-law, Charles Flynn and wife Dianne of Forest City and Tryon. Also surviving are ten nieces, four nephews, twelve great nieces, fourteen great nephews, five great, great nieces, six great, great, nephews and a great, great, great niece.&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;&bsp;

A funeral was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 in the McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon, with Rev. J.C. Sorrow and Pastor Arthur Campbell officiating.

Burial was in Polk Memorial Gardens, Columbus.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mountain Valley P.H. Church, P.O. Box 1165, Tryon, N.C. 28782 or to the Arpha Burrell Biology Scholarship, UNGG College of Arts and Sciences, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, N.C. 27402-6170.

An online guest register may be signed at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon, was serving the family of Miss Burrell.

‐ paid obituary