Harold Lee Gotell

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous might hand.  
Isaiah 41:10

Harold Lee Gotell departed this life on March 3, 2024, at Atrium Navicent Health Medical Center in Macon Georgia of a chronic illness.

Bro. Harold Lee Gotell, known as Squirrel to his family and friends, was born March 12, 1951, to the parentage of the late Bro. William Thomas Gotell and Sis. Eddie Mae Hogan-Gotell at home in McIntyre Georgia. He was the fourth child of thirteen siblings.  

Bro. Harold Lee took Sis Bertha Mae Thomas as his wife on July 15, 1999 they were married for 25 years. They did not have any children but lovingly helped to raise many of their nieces and nephews.

Harold loved the Lord and he loved his family and friends.  He loved teasing kids about cutting their ears off.  Harold Lee also loved the family pet dogs and would visit them daily.  Out of them all, his favorite was Luna.  Sadly, Luna died while he was in the hospital.

Harold loved to talk and had a very good memory. He could tell you about things that had happened in detail from the past. Harold took great joy in hosting birthday parties, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, fish fries and other family gathering at his house on a regular basis.  Harold liked the outdoors as he often sat on his front porch, walked in the yard and the community up and down Asbell Road visiting his family and friends.

Harold enjoyed working with his hands. He admired flowers and trees that bloomed.  He frequently asked people for a piece of their flowers or trees, and would stop beside the road to get samples.  Every year he would plant a garden with hot peppers.  He'd place the peppers in a jar with vinegar and share some with family and friends.

Harold Lee cherished fishing since childhood, learning from his parents. He'd fish tirelessly, inheriting his mother's dedication. His close companion in fishing was Bro. Randall Pitts, joined occasionally by other fishing buddies.  If Harold wasn't around, we knew he was with his best friend, Bro Randall.  

Harold Lee Gotell was preceded in death by two brothers Thomas Gotell, Jimmie Gotell, and a sister, Patricia Gotell-Jackson.


Harold Lee joined Fountain Grove AME Church early on, founded by his grandmother, the late Sis. Ida Mae Mapp-Hogan and the late Bro. Arthur Pitts. After spending 6 years at Power of Faith in Jeffersonville, Georgia, he moved his membership closer to home at Repair of the Breach. He served on the Deacon Board at both churches. In March 2023, he returned to Fountain Grove AME Church, where he faithfully served until falling ill.

He went to Calhoun Consolidated School and graduated from Wilkinson County High School in 1972. After that, he started working at M&M Clay in McIntyre, Georgia, under the late Mr. Homer Miles. Mr. Miles and his sons treated Harold Lee like family, often inviting him to their home and on trips. In his younger years, Harold also worked in the fields and helped with sharecropping alongside his dad.

He is survived by his wife, Bertha Gotell: and siblings: Kennth Gotell, Atlanta, Ga; Geneva Gotell-Liggins (Eddie) Milledgeville, Ga; Willie L Gotell, Irwinton, Ga; Mareece Gotell, Dublin, Ga; Sharon D. Gotell, Alma J. Gotell, both Detroit, MI; Cynthia Gotell-Lewis, Irwinton Ga; Lucy Gotell- Rozier, Gordon, Ga; and Michael J. Gotell, Irwinton, Ga; Sister-in-law, Rosa Thomas-Smith (John), Irwinton, Ga; Patrica Thomas, Dublin, Ga; Brother-in-law, Howard Jackson, Detroit, MI; Tommy Thomas, Macon, Ga; Emmett Thomas, Tennessee; Jamie Thomas, Dublin, Ga; Aunts Mary Ford, Irwinton, Ga; Marjorie Boston,(Eddie) Dublin, Ga; Mattie Stephen, Milledgeville, Ga; Uncle, Willie C Gotell, Cleveland, OH; along with nieces, great-nieces, nephews, great-nephews and cousin.

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