Harrell, who worked for rig owner Transocean, died Monday, according to Wolf Funeral Home in Morton, Mississippi. Jamie was an avid sports fan and especially loved to cheer on his Atlanta Braves and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. or Jay) age 73, born August 10th 1949, of Washburn Tennessee. The horror of the explosion haunted Harrell for the rest of his life, according to the obituary provided by the funeral home. One pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor pollution charge. The horror of the explosion haunted Harrell for the rest of his life, according to the obituary provided by the funeral home. If you dont, theyre going to charge you with 11 counts of manslaughter and gross negligence, Fanning told the TV station. Harrell was the offshore installation manager on the rig when the well it was drilling for BP about 50 miles off Venice blew out on April 20, 2010, destroying the rig and starting the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history. A federal judge eventually said that BP ultimately was responsible for the misinterpreted results, one of the factors resulting in a ruling that BP was grossly negligent and bore most of the responsibility for the disaster. Jays lifelong best friend Johnny Fanny. During a May 2010 government hearing he acknowledged disagreements but denied reports that there were heated debates. When he wasnt battling heavy bouts of PTSD, he found comfort in his favorite pastimes: hunting and fishing and simply being outdoors.. He went to be with the Lord February 17th, 2023 at his home with his loving family by his side, after 9 months of fighting cancer. He had battled cancer for a year. James Lloyd Harrell was born August 26, 1931 in Oak Grove, LA to Mary Elizabeth and Lloyd Franklin Harrell. Obituary Mr. James L. "Jimmy" Harrell Lecompte - Funeral Services for Mr. James L. "Jimmy" Harrell will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 19th, 2022 in the Chapel of Hixson. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY DAVID LEE-- From left, the characters Stephen Curtis (played by Jason Pine), Jimmy Harrell (Kurt Russell), Donald Clark (Ronald Weaver) and Jason Anderson (Ethan Suplee) are shown in the "Deepwater Horizon" film. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. On Friday, January 13th, 2023, James Franklin Harrell, a beloved husband, father, and best friend to everyone, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family and friends. The Deepwater Horizon oil rig burns April 21, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico more than 50 miles southeast of Venice. Some crew members testified Harrell was so exasperated after a meeting with BP bosses on the rig that he suggested a last-ditch piece of equipment called the blowout preventer would likely be needed to pinch the well closed and block oil and gas from shooting out. $('.right-panel .row').prepend('') Funeral services were held Wednesday in Morton. Look to Deepwater Horizon's legal battle, BP and its partners have spent $71 billion over 10 years on Deepwater Horizon disaster, 10 years after BP spill: Oil drilled deeper; rules relaxed, A decade after BP spill, Gulf of Mexico has rebounded, but wounds still visible. Kaluza had given me a plan and I looked at it and it didnt have anything about a negative test, Harrell said. Arrangements by: Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven Funeral Home, Douglasville, GA 30134, 770-942-4246. Jimmy Harrell Obituary With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Jimmy Harrell of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, who passed away on April 3, 2022 at the age of 91. LSU signee Mikaylah Williams to headline girls basketball LBCA All-Star game, Louisiana health agency approved hundreds of illegal hemp products, Motion to accept grant for electric school buses up for discussion. Services Guestbook Condolences. He had battled cancer for a year. Mr. James L. "Jimmy" Harrell Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information Mr. James L. "Jimmy" Harrell April 9, 1947 - March 15, 2022 Share Obituary: Obituary & Events Tribute Wall 8 Share a memory Plant a tree Obituary Please share a memory of Mr. James to include in a keepsake book for family and friends. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. When he wasnt battling heavy bouts of PTSD, he found comfort in his favorite pastimes: hunting and fishing and simply being outdoors.. The Rev. He will be missed by all who loved and knew him. Retired USAF Chief Master Sergeant James Leonard "Jim" Harrell of Burnet passed away unexpectedly on Monday, August 23, 2021, at age 79. Updated: 12:26 PM CDT May 13, 2021 NEW ORLEANS Jimmy Harrell, the man in charge of drilling on the Deepwater Horizon when the mobile oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico 11 years ago, has. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. James Robert Harrell, 82, of Proctor, Arkansas passed away on December 12, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. The drilling team lost control of the well shortly after the test was erroneously declared a success. But Fanning said Harrell struggled emotionally after the incident, especially with the deaths of his crew. Cemetery. Eleven crew members who worked under Harrells command were killed after oil and gas shot out of the miles-long well they had just finished drilling into the sea floor, up a mile-long pipe connected to the rig and set off huge explosions. James A. I said, Jimmy, youll have to go into court and swear an oath and then testify that you were negligent. Two BP supervisors aboard the rig were charged in connection with the test. Harrell was never charged. Tell their story, and publish it online for free. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. // ]]>. At his insistence, a key pressure test that had not been originally scheduled was run. James was preceded in death by his wife Julia Harrell, (Parents) Ulysee and Annie Harrell (One sister), Sara Thomas , (Two brothers), Johnny . Jimmy, as Harrell was called by his crews for rig owner Transocean, started working offshore in 1973 and assumed his post on the Deepwater Horizon in 2004. Harrell testified he was in the shower when the rig exploded, unaware his crew was having trouble. To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. James Harrell. Fanning said federal prosecutors tried to strike a plea deal with Harrell to get him to admit some criminal negligence and testify against the BP rig bosses, Kaluza and Don Vidrine. on Fri. Feb, 3, 2023 from. It also led to w, Ten years after an oil rig explosion killed 11 workers and unleashed an environmental nightmare in the Gulf of Mexico, companies are drilling . If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Harrell, who was portrayed by actor Kurt Russell in a 2016 movie about the disaster, refused. MORTON, Miss. May 12, 2021 - 6:30 pm Jimmy Harrell, the man in charge of drilling on the Deepwater Horizon when the mobile rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico 11 years ago, has died at his home in Morton,. He went to school at Ouachita High School in Monroe, Louisiana. Visitation will be at Beech Grove Baptist Church, 8159 La 961, Clinton, La. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. The explosion and loss of his employees and friends and the inferno that subsequently sunk the rig took a massive toll on his psyche, it said. Try our free interactive obituary template. Jamie also leaves many extended family members and numerous friends. You have funeral questions, we have answers. The most surprising expenses families face when a loved one has died, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. Richardson "The Big Bopper" and Roger Peterson, Making the holiday season bearable during grief. //