Herman Harris

DEACON HERMAN HARRIS was born in Granville County – Oxford, North Carolina on July 28, 1917; the only child of the late John and Annie Morton Harris. He attended the public schools in North Carolina and received several awards and certificates for his beautiful penmanship. Herman moved to Baltimore, Maryland at the age of nineteen years old. He was given a job at the University Hospital in 1936. He worked there until 1941. Herman was then drafted into the United States Army. He served in the Army four years and eight months. The unit he served in was named after the famed Buffalo Soldiers. He was honorably discharged receiving the Purple Heart for courageous and outstanding services serving his country. Herman worked for the Western Maryland Railroad, now CXS Chessy System for thirty-six years until his retirement, serving at least eleven years as a timekeeper. Deacon Harris began his Christian journey by being baptized at the Gillis Memorial Church in 1947 under the leadership of Rev. Theodore Jackson. He then joined the First Baptist Church of Cherry Hill in 1957 under the leadership of Rev. John H. Clark, and continued under Rev. Henry Simon, Sr. He was ordained in 1974 as a Deacon under Rev. Henry Simon, Sr. along with the late Deacon Samuel Manson and the late Rev. Oliver Collins. Deacon Harris continued to serve faithfully under his current Pastor, Rev. Joel M. Smalls. Deacon Harris was an original member of the Charity Fund Ministry and a member of the Friday Noon Day Prayer Ministry of the First Baptist Church of Cherry Hill. He sang with the former Gospel Chorus, the Mass Choir, the John Jeffrey Male Chorus, the Sounds of Praise, the Vocal Choir, and was the first male to sing with the Pre-Convention Choir of the United Baptist Missionary Convention. He loved his community and diligently served with the Cherry Hill Improvement Association for several years. Deacon Harris married the love of his life, Eloise Ross on January 3, 1976. They enjoyed thirty-seven years of love and commitment to each other. Deacon Harris loved to read the Bible and watch old army and western movies. He enjoyed taking his nephews, Alvin Fields, Mark Fields and Melvin Fields fishing down along the Chesapeake Bay near Harbor Hospital. Deacon Harris has fought a good fight, he has finished his race, he kept the faith; and on January 6, 2013 at the Northwest Hospital at 2:36 p.m. God called him from labor to reward and he went to his heavenly home where there is laid up for him the crown of righteousness. He leaves to mourn: a devoted wife, Eloise Harris; a son, Calvin Scott Harris (Jennifer); one sister-in-law, Alberta Akins of Washington, D.C.; one granddaughter, Candy; three great-grandchildren; cousins, Willia Green of East Orange, NJ, Frank Green of East Orange, NJ and Elane Culver of Danville, VA, also Chad Culver, Ryan Culver and Kal Culver of Danville, VA; a very devoted niece, Josephine Fields whom he accepted as his daughter; a special neighbor and friend, Elroy Booth; and a host of grandchildren and children that he raised as his own.

Tributes

Herman Harris

July 28, 1917 - January 6, 2013