Della Culbertson Harrison

Della Kate (Culbertson) Harrison, 86, slipped peacefully into the arms of her waiting Savior Saturday, September 21, 2024. She was born the ninth of fourteen children to the late James B. Culbertson and Rosa Bentley Culbertson in Wise County, Virginia. At the age of 15 she moved to Colonial Heights, Virginia and the following year met the love of her life, Atwell S. Harrison. Six weeks later they were married with their union lasting 62 years until his death in 2016. She lived most of her life in Dinwiddie County, returning to Wise 3 years ago to enjoy life at The Laurels Retirement and Assisted Living where she made cherished friends and received the best possible care from their loving and capable staff. 

 Besides her parents and husband Della was preceded in death by two sisters; Nellie Wyatt and Ruth Sturgill; five brothers, Charles, James, Glenn, Lowell, and Johnny Culbertson; and son in law, William Grissom. She is survived by one son, Atwell Harrison, Jr. (Vicki); and two daughters, Jennifer Smith (Pete), and Betty Tate (Gary); grandsons; Joshua (Alycia) Harrison, Zachary (Lauren) Harrison, and Jesse Biscoe, III; 

granddaughter Kristin Elmore; great grandson Matthew Elmore who she raised as her own; great granddaughters; Krystal Green (Brandon), Amber Smith, and Autumn Turek. She was blessed to live to meet her great great grandson William Green. She has one amazing sister, Lena Huff, and five devoted brothers who remain; Coy, Ray (Ann), Gerald (Virginia), Don, and Ernest (Shirley) Culbertson; a deeply devoted nephew who was also her pastor, Donald “Bub Culbertson; and her beloved niece Carolyn Rutherford who assisted in her care at The Laurels. In addition she leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends to cherish her memory. 

 Della retired from the US Postal Service after many years as a rural carrier. She was steadfast in her Christian faith and loved her family intensely with her only goal being that each one would come to a saving knowledge of Christ and live according to His example as she did so well. Her children are blessed beyond measure to have been loved so deeply by this special godly woman.

 Visitation will be 12 noon, Friday September 27, 2024 at Smyrna Baptist Church in Dinwiddie followed by a Celebration of Life beginning at 1 pm with Rev. Dr. Robert Rowland officiating. Interment will be at Southlawn Memorial Park. A reception will take place afterward at the church.

 On Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 11am, a Memorial Service will be held at First Apostolic Church of Norton 4447 Dorchester Rd, Norton, Virginia led by Pastor Donald Culbertson. A reception will follow at the Dorchester Community Center.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Laurels Retirement and Assisted Living, 5635 BSG Dr., Norton, VA 24273 or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

 The family is being served by Williams Funeral Home, Lawrenceville, VA. Special thanks to Mark Sturgill with Sturgill Funeral Home in Wise.