Annie Harris

Obituary In Loving Memory of Mother Annie Williams Harris   Mother Annie Williams Harris was a trail blazer and a true pioneer, who was a loving devoted mother, grandmother, and doting great grandmother, great, great grandmother, and loving friend to many. Mother Annie Williams Harris was born on October 18, 1913 in Birmingham, Alabama and was the second of four children of Henry and Lizzie (Street) Williams.  She grew up in Birmingham, attended public school in Birmingham, Alabama. Mother Annie accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at 45th Street Baptist Church that was located in East Birmingham, now located in Tarrant City.  She served in the choir at 45th Street Baptist and secretary for many years.  Her spiritual developments were also influenced by her father and mother who were devout and obedient to God; a home of fellowship and Bible teaching of Love of Jesus Christ.   After moving to West End community, she joined the Greater Shiloh Baptist Church, pastored by the late Rev. Allen Thomas. She served in many ministries of the church and a member of the senior choir.  Her gift of keeping records and singing led her into various areas of Christian service.   She married Sidney Harris and was blessed with ten children.  During this time she was a homemaker taking care of her family.  After her youngest child enrolled in school she began to work outside the home at Cora’s Nursing Home and East End Memorial Hospital in Food Service Department where she retired in December 1975.  Mother Annie was blessed to travel throughout the United States and abroad, but the most memorable trip was going to Jerusalem with her daughters and being baptized in the Jordan River.  She was a frequent visitor in Detroit, Michigan; Riverside, San Bernardino, and Vallejo, California and established many fine relationships with persons at Chapel Hill Baptist, Friendship, Mt. Calvary and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and people in respective communities.  This allowed her transition from Alabama to be one of anticipated pleasure.  Mother Annie was loved my many who identified with her as a mother figure and a woman of God.  Many saw her as one who was concerned, compassionate, energized and young in spirit.  Her loving smile with be forever missed by all who knew and loved her.   Mother Annie was drawn to stimulating activities that placed her on the path of constant improvement. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sidney Harris, Sr., daughter, Mary Sanders, son, Harold Harris and grandson, Gavin Harris, two great grandsons Alvin Gatson, Jr. and Joshua V. Holderfield. She leaves to cherish and celebrate her memories: five beloved daughters, Rebecca Goodwin, Carolyn (Eddie) Render, Detroit, MI.,  Ernestine (Charles) Warren, Perris, CA, Annie Gwendolyn and Delphine Harris , Vallejo, CA;  three beloved sons, Sidney, Birmingham, Jonas (Louise), Marvin, NC and Abdul (Felicia) Raheem, East Hazel Crest, IL;  a loving sister in law, Emily Harris, Birmingham;  beloved daughter and son in law, Uneeda Harris, Texas and Lindbergh Sanders, Birmingham;  twenty grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren and nine great –great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and loyal friends. On Sunday night at 9 P.M., October 2, 1016 at Kaiser Hospital, Vallejo, CA, Mother Harris boarded the Old Ship of Zion and peacefully crossed the River Jordan into the waiting arms of her Lord where “every day is Sunday and the Sabbath has no end.” Amen