Mattie Marie E. Harris

MATTIE MARIE MAGNOLIA ELAM HARRIS, the sixth child of the late William H. and late Mary Jane Price Elam, was born in Charlotte County, Virginia, in the town of Saxe. After receiving her formative education in the County, she graduated from Central High School, Charlotte Court House, Virginia. With her keen interest and outstanding talent in the area of art, Mattie enrolled at Virginia State College (now University) in 1955 to seek training in Fine Arts Education, thus honing her skill in creative art and becoming quite adept in the field. In 1960, Mattie married Fred David Harris of Saxe, Virginia, and relocated to Baltimore, Maryland. From this union, they were blessed with three children: two sons, Fred Anthony and Michael Dean; and one daughter, Cheryl Alisa. All of their children, after completing their formative education, enrolled at Coppin State University in Baltimore. In Baltimore, Mattie immediately used her skills by serving as a Teaching Assistant at Guilford Elementary School. Her work in several other schools in Baltimore earned her many certificates and awards, including a Certificate in Recognition of and as a Testimonial to Outstanding Performance in Pre-School Education; the Excellence in Teaching Award in 1990; a Dedicated Service Award in Furthering the Purpose of the YMCA in the Area of Education; and a Certificate in Child Abuse Training and Prevention in 1997. during her career, many teachers called upon Mattie to assist them with various art projects in their classes. Mattie received additional training at Coppin State University in Early Childhood Education and at the Universirty of Maryland, Baltimore County, in reading. Like her mother, Mattie was an excellent seamstress. She worked after school and on weekends designing and making clothes for neighbors and acquaintances. She was also a skilled upholsterer, often assisting the owner of an upholstery shop with designing and re- upholstering furniture. The demand for their service was so great that the business grew by leaps and bounds. Mattie joined Shiloh Baptist Church in Charlotte County, Virginia, at an early age, However, she moved her membership to New Mt. Hebron Baptist Church when she relocated to Baltimore, Maryland. Mattie and David (who became a deacon at the church) encouraged their children to attend both Sunday School and Church Mattie, herself, was always very active in the church. She served as a Deaconess for approximately thirty-three years and as an Usher for twenty-five years. Mattie’s faith in God gave her the fortitude to accept the deaths of her husband Fred Davis and two sons Fred Anthony and Michael Dean. She often said, “God has not given me more than I can bear.” Through he has many trials and tribulations, she kept the faith. Mattie, therefore, leaves to cherish her memory and her strength her daughter Cheryl Alisa; granddaughter Melanie Harris; grandson Tavon Jason Harris; daughter-in-law Donna (Wayne) Anderson; five sisters: Jennie E. Faulkner (Calvin) of South Boston, Virginia; Rosa E. Evans of Henderson, North Carolina; Ruth E. Brogdon of Saxe, Virginia; Julia Corene Elam of Bowie, Maryland; and Mildred E. Bailey (Joseph) of Halifax, Virginia; two brothers; James H. Elam of Beltsville, Maryland; and Otis J. Elam (Shirley) of Fairfax Station, Virginia. Mattie also leaves to cherish her memory her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends.

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Mattie Marie E. Harris

October 18, 1931 - November 20, 2011