1936
Thomas
2016
Thomas Harris, Sr.
November 8, 1936 — September 18, 2016
Thomas M. Harris, Sr.
Brandon, MS
In the late afternoon of Sunday, September 18th, 2016, Thomas Mercer Harris Sr. surrendered his spirit into the arms of our loving Lord and Savior. Born in 1936 on the Little River branch of the Savannah River basin in Wilkes County Georgia, Tom made his way to Mississippi in 1980. As the state entomologist, the United States Department of Agriculture delivered him here to fight the boll weevil and the fire ant. In 1999, after conquering the former and surrendering to the latter, Tom retired from the USDA. His volunteer work had grown to a point that his paying job was now a hindrance to all things important. Ross Barnett Reservoir Fire Department volunteer, volunteer ambulance driver, Rankin County Sheriff’s Reserve Deputy, St Paul’s Parish Council President, Knights of Columbus, Master Gardener, hall of fame grandfather, and just all around swell guy become his charters.
He loved his God and he loved his neighbor, and as he recently said, “after being Baptist for 40 years and then Catholic for another 40, I think I got it figured out”. No one can recall an ill word Tom spoke of anyone outside the profession of politics, and no one can recall an opportunity Tom missed to help his fellow man. Tom was preceded in death by the love of his life Rose Marie, and he is survived by his son and daughter in law, Thomas & Michele Harris of Brandon Mississippi, grandchildren Mabry and Jonathan Harris of Brandon, brothers and sister, John, Joe, and Ruth Harris of Pelham, Alabama and Washington, Georgia, and his English Bulldog George Uh, who was sired from UGA VI of his beloved alma mater, the University of Georgia.
Visitation will be at Ott & Lee in Brandon this Wednesday, September 21, 2016 from 5-7 and his celebration of life will be at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Flowood Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 11 am with visitation starting at 10am.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to either the Rose Harris Endowment fund of Catholic Charities or Rosie’s Garden, a community garden in Rankin County, would be greatly appreciated.
Brandon, MS
In the late afternoon of Sunday, September 18th, 2016, Thomas Mercer Harris Sr. surrendered his spirit into the arms of our loving Lord and Savior. Born in 1936 on the Little River branch of the Savannah River basin in Wilkes County Georgia, Tom made his way to Mississippi in 1980. As the state entomologist, the United States Department of Agriculture delivered him here to fight the boll weevil and the fire ant. In 1999, after conquering the former and surrendering to the latter, Tom retired from the USDA. His volunteer work had grown to a point that his paying job was now a hindrance to all things important. Ross Barnett Reservoir Fire Department volunteer, volunteer ambulance driver, Rankin County Sheriff’s Reserve Deputy, St Paul’s Parish Council President, Knights of Columbus, Master Gardener, hall of fame grandfather, and just all around swell guy become his charters.
He loved his God and he loved his neighbor, and as he recently said, “after being Baptist for 40 years and then Catholic for another 40, I think I got it figured out”. No one can recall an ill word Tom spoke of anyone outside the profession of politics, and no one can recall an opportunity Tom missed to help his fellow man. Tom was preceded in death by the love of his life Rose Marie, and he is survived by his son and daughter in law, Thomas & Michele Harris of Brandon Mississippi, grandchildren Mabry and Jonathan Harris of Brandon, brothers and sister, John, Joe, and Ruth Harris of Pelham, Alabama and Washington, Georgia, and his English Bulldog George Uh, who was sired from UGA VI of his beloved alma mater, the University of Georgia.
Visitation will be at Ott & Lee in Brandon this Wednesday, September 21, 2016 from 5-7 and his celebration of life will be at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Flowood Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 11 am with visitation starting at 10am.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to either the Rose Harris Endowment fund of Catholic Charities or Rosie’s Garden, a community garden in Rankin County, would be greatly appreciated.
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