Ms Gladys B Harris

Gladys was born on March 4, 1941 in Norfolk, Virginia. She was the third of six children blessed to John and Isabelle (Walker) Morris and the family settled in South Norfolk (which is now Chesapeake), Virginia. Gladys married Russell J. Harris at the tender age of seventeen and soon afterwards entered the workforce after bearing their first born child in 1957. She has worked hard ever since in jobs such as laundry attendant, cafeteria server, and general maintenance. She often reflected on the saying, “life has a way of snatching the rug right from under your feet,” and with that she found herself as a single mother raising four children. She played the role of mother and father in a time when that wasn’t common and during life changing events such as wars overseas and the peak of desegregation in the U.S. But despite the odds, numerous setbacks and hardships, she always provided the basic creature comforts and a safe home for her kids. After decades of living in the Tidewater Virginia area, Gladys and her youngest daughter packed it all up and moved to Columbia, SC in 2004. There she became a member of Restoration Life Ministries Church of God in Christ and she developed a special passion for helping our economically disadvantaged neighbors and volunteering at the church’s Food Pantry. Those who knew her will remember Mother Harris for her humility, kindness, and special love for her work. Her commitment and selflessness will be missed by many. Gladys was a quiet soul who relished the simple pleasures of life. She loved reading the Bible, comedy movies, game shows, getting together for lunch with the Church Mothers, shopping, and celebrating the holidays. She had a natural knack for decorating with artificial plants, candles, sand, marbles, and ribbons, and she collected angel figurines as one of her favorite hobbies. She also enjoyed growing plants inside and outside of the home. Her favorite flowers were lantana, hydrangeas, pentas, roses, geraniums, and crepe myrtle trees. Gladys is remembered as a loving mother and grandmother. She thought highly of her family and was happiest when her kinfolk surrounded her. She absolutely loved Sunday dinners at her daughter’s home in Columbia, SC where almost every week the family feasted on ham or baked chicken, cabbage, potato salad (that she made herself), candied yams, and sweet dinner rolls. Gladys was also a dedicated daughter, sister, friend, and church member. Today, we honor a life well-lived. People just seem to gravitate towards Mother Gladys Harris because she had such an infectious smile and warm, friendly demeanor. She had a strong “presence” in her personal family, church family, workplace, and community. Gladys died peacefully in her sleep at the Colonial Health and Rehabilitation Center in Virginia Beach, VA. Though her health was failing for years, few people knew the extent to which she struggled. Her joy for life and unwavering faith and spirit kept her pushing through the pain. Gladys is pre-deceased by her only son, Danny Ray Harris; youngest daughter, Scherry A. Mann; sisters, Jeanette I. Little and Otelia Artist; brother Edward Morris; and her parents. She is survived by two daughters, Gladys L. Sivels and Barbara R. Harris; one sister, Ella M. Inman; one brother, Leonard R. Morris; 6 grandchildren (Tamara Covil-Porter, Darrien D. Sivels, Nakita Harris-Smith, Kendall A. Harris, Kevin A. Harris, and Jerry L. Davis); 16 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and very close friends.

Tributes

Ms Gladys B Harris

March 4, 1941 - October 6, 2022