A prominent figure in Fayette County history, A. Hewlette Harrell, 72, Fayetteville, died Feb. 29, 2000.

Harrell first had a service station in Fayetteville and began Fairburn Ready Mix in April 1964. The firm has grown from five to 70 employees.

He served as a Fayette County representative in the House of Representatives for six years in the early 1960s, at a time Fayette County was a part of other county districts. When Fayette became a district unto itself, he was the first Fayette countian in recent times to directly serve the county.

His volunteer work included serving as a volunteer deputy sheriff; he was chief of the county's first Civil Defense and was one of those instrumental in starting the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. He served as its second president.

He also was instrumental in starting two local banks, First Citizens Bank, now First Union Bank, and First Bank and Trust, now Wachovia Bank.

Harrell was born July 24, 1927 in Fayette County. He was preceded in death by his father, Aubrey T. Harrell in 1992 and by his first wife, Harriette Dean Morgan Harrell, in 1995.

Services were at the Fayetteville First Baptist Church with the Rev. Frank Ellis, the Rev. Chris Perkins, the Rev. Glenn Stringham and Jim Battles officiating. Interment was at Camp Memorial Park, Fayetteville.

Survivors include his wife, Joan S. Harrell, Fayetteville; a son, Greg and Trennon H. Harrell, Fayetteville; a daughter, Dianna and Merrell Moore, Fayetteville; grandchildren Melissa Harrell, Audrey Harrell, Tracie Moore and Brian Moore, all of Fayetteville; his mother, W. Pauline Williams Harrell, Fayetteville; a brother, Floyd and Sandra Harrell, Peachtree City; and stepchildren Steve and Donna Cole, Sherrie Cole and Susan and Steve Parker.

Memorial donations may be made to the Fayetteville First Baptist Church building fund.

Carl J. Mowell and Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville, was in charge of the arrangements