YNCS (USN Ret) James Dixie Harris

Dixie was born in a room on the top floor of his family’s country store on August 7, 1922 in Pleasant Hill, Georgia. For 98 years he blessed so many until God called him home and healed him on September 11, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Elaine, of 22 years and many immediate and extended family members.

As a boy, Dixie learned the value of hard work on their family farm and living through the Great Depression. After finishing high school, he decided to enlist in the U.S. Military. Dixie tells the story of how he wanted to join the Horse Cavalry but when the Army could not promise him a horse, down the street he went to the Navy Recruiter’s Office. They told him, “Son, we can’t promise you a horse, but we can promise you a ship.” That was good enough for Dixie.

And so, a new life began at the tender age of 18 that lead to a 22-year career with the United States Navy. Dixie’s military service spanned across many duty stations all along the east coast after completion of submarine training. He also narrowly survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec 7, 1941, valiantly served in the campaign of the Pacific during WWII while stationed in New Zealand and Australia, and finished WWII near Washington, DC.

After retiring from the Navy, Dixie embarked into civilian life selling life insurance and cars, but public service remained in his blood, so he spent the next 16 years working for the United States Postal Service. While in management, one of his major accomplishments was being assigned to test the first automated zip code equipment stationed in Columbus, GA.

Dixie became aware of the Georgia State Pearl Harbor Survivors Association in 1991. As State Chairman he spoke to many organizations and served to educate future generations through presentations about Pearl Harbor at the President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Little White House” located in Warm Springs, GA. Until Dixie’s involvement with the association, his experiences on that horrific day at Pearl were unknown to his family and those who knew him best. His untold stories and memories surfaced when he started being interviewed by TV news reporters and noted in published newspaper articles commemorating that infamous day in history. He served until the association was retired back to the U.S. Congress due to the decline in the numbers of its surviving members. Dixie was the last of the three remaining Pearl Harbor survivors in Georgia. It was his life’s mission that we “Always Remember” that fateful day and everywhere he went people would thank him for his service whenever they saw him wearing his Pearl Harbor Survivor cap. He always replied, “It was my honor to serve my country.”

Another passion in Dixie’s life was to be a helpful servant so he became a longtime member of Wynnbrook Baptist Church in Columbus, GA and participated in many ministries through his involvement in the Men’s Sunday School and Visitation Outreach. His deep desire to serve the Lord with his compassion and commitment to those in need was his true calling. Dixie never refused any request.

Many lives were impacted and blessed by Dixie as he lived out his life by faith, integrity, and kindness. Above all else, he maintained a positive attitude no matter what circumstances came his way. He always had a spirit of gratitude and always told us to stay positive and never give up the ship.

Everyone will deeply miss him. He was Dixie, Dad, James, Bubba, Uncle Dixie, Uncle Bubba, Paw Paw, Paw Paw Georgia, Paw Paw Dixie, Pop and Pop Pop to his family. We all celebrate his life and now know, after many years not being able to, he is now walking again hand in hand with the Lord.