Obituary of Dr. Mary Louise Harris

Dr. Mary Louise Harris departed this life on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. She was born on September 22, 1941, the eighth of ten children, in Nashville, TN to the late Adolphus and Sarah Smith Harris. Her Christian life began at St. Phillips AME Church where her family was active members. She was a Sunday School teacher and active in other youth organizations. She later attended Payne Chanel AME Church, and in her later adult life, united with Lee Chapel AME Church. Mary’s education began at Ford Green Elementary School, she matriculated to Washington Junior High, Pearl Senior High (Class of 1959), and Tennessee State University where she
received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. She continued her educational journey at Meharry Medical College where she earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology degree in 1977. Mary was a member of a family that produced five educators. Mary lived her life in line with the old African proverb, “Give me a fish and I will eat today, teach me to fish and I will eat for a lifetime.” Desiring to become a teacher, she began her teaching career with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools at Granbury Elementary and ended at Kirkpatrick Elementary School. She was a life member of the Teacher’s Sorority Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Mary loved her family and was always there to encourage them, impressing upon them the value of a good education. She was a supporter of the Harris family reunion, acting as the treasurer for many years. At reunion time everyone would get a call from Mary reminding them of their reunion dues. Sometimes she would solicit sponsors or just pay out of her own pocket to make sure that as many family members as possible could attend the reunion. Mary will truly be missed by her brothers and the entire family. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Adolphus and Sarah Smith Harris; four brothers, James, Vander, Herbert, and Jerry Harris;  one sister, Virginia Harris Bright; one niece, and two nephews.

 Mary leaves to cherish her memories brothers, Howard (Gwendolyn), and Nathaniel (Brenda) Harris;  brother-in-law, Alexander Bright, III;  sisters-in-law, Wilma, Janie, Dr. Cleo Harris, and Jennie Houston.  A special niece, Dr. Lori Breaux (Shelby) Mitchell, and two special nephews, Dr. Victor Bright and John (Cheronda) Bright, Sr. of Houston, TX., fourteen nieces, nine nephews, great nieces, great nephew, cousins, and friends from across the U.S.A. and U. S. Virgin Islands and beyond.