Sheryll Ann Capin Harrell, 76, passed away in the comfort of her home in Oxford, Mississippi, on November 18, 2023. She was surrounded by the love of her family as she traveled those last steps of her path here on earth, toward her ultimate home in heaven.
Sheryll was born in Princeton, Indiana on September 14, 1947, to the late Richard (Dick) Fay Capin and Mary “Jeanne” Seitz Capin. While her parents grew in their dedication to building their family, they also found themselves growing in their dedication to following the will of Christ within their lives. As Dick and Jeanne put their trust in following God’s way for them, they were led to many different places over the years. The family even spent time serving as missionaries overseas. So, as Sheryll grew up, she found herself living in locations from the small town of Mt Carmel, Illinois to Abilene, Texas and even reaching as far as Seoul, Korea. As she wrapped up her high school years, Sheryll spent time living in likely her most favorite location of all, Hollywood, California.
Upon graduating from high school, her family moved back to the Midwest, to Indiana, where she went on to attend Anderson University. While there, she met her first love, David Matas. They went on to get married and had four children together; Gregory, Jennifer, Richard, and Stephanie. She also studied at Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis, earning her degree in accounting.
Sheryll went on to successfully start and grow her own accounting and business firm in Greenwood, Indiana. Her clients and career meant the world to her. Her work, and the relationships formed through it, brought great joy to her life.
As the years went by, Sheryll met Donald “Bud” Harrell of Ripley, TN. They met through mutual friends. One day, he went to see her at her office, as it just so happened, he needed his taxes done. Not surprisingly, he thought she was the woman for the job. Eventually, they had their first date. It didn’t take long for the love between them to grow, and they decided to get married and build a life together. Sheryll gained two more children in Bud’s son and daughter from his first marriage, Ronney “Bubba” Harrell and Donna Harrell. After several years, she and Bud decided to head south to live. In 1998, Sheryll began the process of starting her second business in Collierville, TN.
Sheryll was a woman of many qualities. She enjoyed playing piano, singing, shopping, and fine dining. She also had a style all her own, that most could only hope to pull off with such effortless grace and class. She loved her children fiercely, and she worked incredibly hard to give them all she could in life. Nothing meant more to her than to know they were ok, that they would be ok, and that they knew how much she loved them. Family was everything to her. Her biggest passion in life was people, and they always gravitated towards her. Sheryll was a bright light that touched so many lives. She was smart, kind, funny, quick witted, giving, graceful, unbelievably strong, and she loved with a depth that was immeasurable.
Sheryll is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband and father of her children, David Matas, her daughter Jennifer Matas, and her husband Donald Harrell. She leaves behind five children, Gregory Matas (Krista Matas), Richard Matas (Elizabeth Matas), Stephanie Matas Murphree (Justin Murphree), Ronney Harrell (Kelly Harrell), and Donna Harrell, along with two brothers Gregg Capin and Mark Capin, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Sheryll left a mark on not only the lives of her family and friends, but on the lives of so many individuals that she encountered during her time here. She will forever be greatly missed and deeply loved by all those that were lucky enough to know her.
A celebration of life honoring Sheryll will be planned at a later date.
