Pearlie "Bonnie" Mae Murrell Harkley

Pearlie "Bonnie" Mae Murrell Harkley, 79, of Beaufort, passed away Friday, May 15, 2026, at Pruitt Health Crystal Coast in Beaufort, NC.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in Beaufort, with pastor Hubert Judon officiating. Burial will follow at the Murrell Family Cemetery in North River. The family will receive friends prior from 1-2:00 p.m. at the church.

A dedicated member of Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church, Pearlie found joy and fulfllment in her faith community. Pearlie was a very skilled seamstress in her days of living in New York City. She worked for Thomas Seafood in North River where she contributed her skills and dedication. Pearlie had a passion for gardening, spending cherished moments tending to her plants and nurturing the beauty of nature around her. Pearlie had a little secret – she wrote a song back in the day that actually got recorded by an artist ot two! We will never forget Aunt Pearlie’s “wicked sense of humor”!

She is survived by her three sons, Gordon Ray Harkley of Merrimon, Jerome Curtis Lofton Jr. and wife Tracie Massey of Apex, and Kim Eugene Harkley of Beaufort; six grandchildren, Jasmine Faith Lofton of Beaufort, Ikura George of Merrimon, Olivia Jade Stambro of Greenville, Desmond Xavier Lofton of Beaufort, Alexandria Lee Lofton of Beaufort, and Michal Turner of Beaufort; brother, William Murrell and wife Doris of Beaufort; brother, Artie Murrell and wife Laurie of Morehead City; sister, Ramona Mitchell of Beaufort; sister, Sandra Brown of Beaufort; and sister Tammy Murrell of Beaufort; and her best friend Unice Ann Jones of Beaufort. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Columbus “Biggie” Murrell and Maggie Murrell; brother, Avon Murrell; sister, Vida Taylor; sister, Verdell Burrus; sister, Sharon Gardener; son, Columbus Thomas Harkley; son, Alexander Durrell Harkley; and granddaughter, Kimberly Harkley. 

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noefs.net

Arrangements by Noe Funeral Service, Inc. of Beaufort, NC.