Marilyn Louise Harrell Booth
Marilyn Louise Harrell Booth was born on September 10, 1940, to Jesse Henry and Fannie Kate (née Dezern) Harrell in Brownsville, Haywood County, TN. After a brief illness, Marilyn passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, February 1, 2026, in the Baptist East Hospital in Memphis. She was 85 years old. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 12:00 PM, at the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home with Bro. J.P. Barden officiating. Marilyn will be interred beside her beloved husband, Jerry, in the Holly Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Haywood County, TN. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026, from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, at the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home.
Marilyn grew up in Haywood County and lived there nearly her entire life. After attending Haywood High School, she enrolled in the Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Memphis. She received her baccalaureate degree in nursing and her Registered Nurse (RN) license in 1961. Thereafter, Marilyn worked for four years at the Haywood County Memorial Hospital, and then from 1965 until her retirement in 2002, she worked for the Haywood County Health Department, rising to the position of Nurse Supervisor. In 1983, Marilyn married the love of her life, Jerome (Jerry) Clark Booth. After retiring, Marilyn stayed active by serving on the Haywood County Board of Health, the Haywood County Foster Care Review Board, and the Chestnut Grove Cemetery Association. She was also an energetic activist for community affairs and, in this capacity, played a major role in the establishment of the Haywood County Farm Cemetery. In her retirement, Marilyn worked at managing the family farm and rental properties. Her greatest service, however, was as the caregiver for many of her family members in their final months and years, including her parents, her two brothers, and her husband. She also assisted in the care for some of her aunts and uncles. Marilyn’s favorite pastimes were knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, traveling, visiting craft fairs, and above all else, hosting family gatherings.
Marilyn was predeceased by her parents Jesse Henry and Fannie Kate (née Dezern) Harrell, her husband Jerome (Jerry) Clark Booth, and her two brothers Jesse Lyle Harrell and Claude Wade Harrell. She is survived by her first cousin Mary Jane Dezern, her niece Jacqueline Lee Harrell, her two nephews John Alan Harrell and James Anthony Harrell, her great-nephew James Patrick Harrell, and her great-great-niece Ciara Moriah Harrell.
It can truly be said of Marilyn that she deeply loved her friends and family, and was deeply loved by them in return. She will forever be cherished in the hearts of all who knew her.
Pallbearers for the service are Mike Taylor, Ken Taylor, B.J. Day, Ethan Williams, Floyd Stewart, Dewayne Autry and Bob Bond. Honorary Pallbearer is Terry Hooper.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Holly Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. c/o Mrs. Becky Booth, 1592 Albert Booth Road, Bells, TN 38006 or the Chestnut Grove Cemetery c/o Mr. Sonny Waddell, 2616 Hwy 70 E, Brownsville, TN 38012. All arrangements and services are under the direction of the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home,
