Ms. Myra Ann Harris

Journey of Life Myra Ann Harris was the only daughter born to the late Elmira and John Harris on December 9, 1937, in Baltimore Maryland. She was the older sister to Carl and the late Wilfrid. Myra peacefully departed this life at Gilchrist Hospice in Towson on February 1, 2025, after a short illness. Myra was baptized at St. Pius V Catholic Church which was later merged with St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Baltimore. She was very active in the church and served in the Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality, Parish Council, Lector and on the Finance Committee. Also, because she was over the age of 75, she was a Diamond in the Mist, an organization in the church. Myra was educated in Baltimore City schools and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1955. After graduation from high school, she enrolled in the then State Teachers College at Towson now Towson University in the fall of 1955 where she was one of the first black students to graduate from the institution in 1959. After she began teaching, she earned a master’s degree from Columbia University and took postgraduate courses at Johns Hopkins and Loyola Universities. She then taught elementary school and supervised student teachers before serving as assistant principal at Harlem Park Elementary and Madison Square Elementary in Baltimore where she retired in 1992. Being one of the first black graduates at Towson University, the members of Granting Opportunity for Learning and Development (G.O.L.D.) established the Barnes-Harris endowment to honor Myra and the other first black graduate, Mrs. Marvis Barnes. For more than 30 years, the endowment provided scholarships for many incoming freshmen. In 2022, Towson University dedicated Harris Hall, a dormitory, in honor of Myra. Myra, along with her mother, aunt and uncle traveled together for many years. They visited many countries in Africa, Hawaii, Italy, Russia and Japan. Myra was a very devoted daughter and niece and was the caretaker for her mother and Aunt Rebecca until their deaths in 1993 and 1999. She served as an officer for the neighborhood Upton Planning Committee and the Northwest United Protection Association. She also sponsored many trips to Atlantic City, Delaware Park and Midway casinos. Many of the church members and neighborhood residents enjoyed and looked forward to the monthly trips. Myra loved to play bingo and was well known at Bingo World in Brooklyn, Maryland. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmira and John Harris, brother Wilfrid, nephew Carl Jr., Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Rebecca. She is survived by her brother Carl and his wife Joan, cousin Constance, nieces Angela and Jean (Anthony), nephews Todd and Antonio (Marcella), nieces-in-law, Yulanda and Jacque, great nephews, Tony (Jocilyn), Tyree and Kamron, great nieces, Tierra, Tyler, Tanner, Taylor and Zoe, great great nephews Gavin and Amir and great great niece Gabrielle and a host of cousins and friends.

Tributes

Ms. Myra Ann Harris

December 9, 1937 - February 1, 2025