Carmen Deloris Harris

Carmen Deloris Harris was born to Herma D. Cripps and Roy Warrington in St. Andrew, Jamaica on November 2, 1943. She was raised by her mother and stepfather, Sylvester Johnson in the country and brought up under the Baptist faith. As the eldest of 12 siblings, she shouldered the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings and running the household. She attended Dallas All Age School and Constitution Hill All Age School. In those days, nursing and teaching were the careers of choice for young girls, and she chose nursing.

Upon graduating from school, she started a practical nursing career in a private home under the supervision of a registered nurse. In those days this practice was common in Jamaica. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, the late Daniel David Harris, who was employed by a gas station near the nursing school that Carmen attended. From 1960-1961, Daniel whistled to Carmen every day as she walked to school and was promptly ignored. However, impressed by his persistence, Carmen finally stopped and spoke to Daniel, and the courtship began. Carmen and Daniel were married on June 26, 1971, and were blessed with three children, Godfrey Windsor Harris, Lesra Anthony Harris and Jacqueline Amanda Harris.

With a family to support, Carmen and Daniel looked for opportunities abroad to make life better for their children. In 1969, Carmen migrated to the United States and began working as a live-in domestic. During her employment in the United States, she worked for three families: the Kelloggs, the Beans and, most notably, the Farleys. She first brought Jaqueline to America, and then in the 1980’s she and Jacqueline were joined by Daniel and Lesra in Stamford, Connecticut. The family unit was finally intact, which is something that Carmen worked hard to achieve. While living in Connecticut she continued to work for Mr. and Mrs. Farley. She was extremely proud of her children and bragged often about their many accomplishments. On her birthday in 1988 she was overjoyed at the birth of her only grandchild, David Harris, born to Lesra and his wife, Viola. Lesra enlisted in the United States Air Force and now works for the South Florida Water Management District. Jacqueline pursued a career in law working as a prosecutor and now as an immigration and divorce lawyer.

When the Farleys decided to move to Hobe Sound, Florida, Carmen had already developed a close relationship with them and their four children, Franny, Jimmy, Katie and Andrew, all of whom fondly called her “Carm.” As a result, Carmen and Daniel decided to move with the Farleys to Hobe Sound in 1991. Being in Florida also brought Carmen closer to her extended family as well as her siblings and mother, whom she had assisted in migrating from Jamaica to the United States in the 1980’s.

Life in Florida was good for Carmen and her family. In addition to having a job that she loved, she enjoyed the great weather, made friends and developed new interests. Carmen loved shopping, and going fishing with her husband on Jupiter beach. Over the years she became quite an avid fisherwoman catching, scaling, cleaning and cooking the catch of the day which she shared with friends and family. She also enjoyed shopping, including thrift stores where she

found many intricate pieces to complete her home décor. However, what Carmen loved most of all was hosting Christmas dinner, which she continued to do until Christmas 2023. It was a lot of work, but she was an excellent cook and enjoyed feeding people.

Another hobby that Carmen enjoyed was travelling. Every summer she would travel via private jet to the Farleys’ cottage in Harbor Point, Michigan, where she enjoyed horse-drawn carriage rides, shopping, “fancy” dinners and trips to the casino and Mackinac Island with her friends employed by other families on the Point. She also loved going to spend time with Jackie in Philadelphia as well as going on cruises and visiting family in Jamaica.

During the past 15 years, Carmen experienced great loss. She mourned the death of her husband in 2010. She also lost Mr. and Mrs. Farley, her sister Venoris and her mother. Carmen spent most of her time at home with her “bestie” Joy the cat. In December 2023, Carmen had a mild stroke, and her health declined thereafter. In January 2025 she underwent a routine surgical procedure. However, due to complications that arose during her extensive hospitalization, she became increasingly ill. Despite her inner strength and determination to live, God called her home to take her rest on July 8, 2025.

Carmen Deloris Harris was a strong, courageous, independent, kind and generous woman with a big heart who fiercely loved her family. One of the last things that her daughter Jackie heard her struggle to say during her hospitalization in February was, “I love you all!” Although she did not have a church affiliation, she was a woman of strong faith who read her bible and believed in the power of prayer. She is predeceased by her husband, Daniel David Harris, son, Godfrey Windsor Harris, parents, Herma D. Johnson and Roy Warrington, siblings Venoris Patten and Tony Steven Graham and survived by: her son Lesra Anthony Harris, daughter-in-law Viola Harris, daughter Jacqueline Amanda Harris, grandson David Lee Harris, sisters Bevon Johnson, Cecelia Johnson, Edith Edwards, Rose Roberts, Sharon Mullens, Vanetta Graham, brothers Hewitt Johnson, Clemston Johnson, Martin Johnson, sister-in laws, Patsy Johnson, Sharon Johnson and Monica Johnson, brother-in-laws, Donald Edwards and Leacroft Roberts, countless nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her beloved cat Joy.

MOMMO, Mater, Grandma, Sis, Carm, Carmen…We love you and will miss you forever. Rest in peace

until we meet again.

A visitation for Carmen will be held Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at JupiterFIRST Church, 1475 Indian Creek Pkwy, Jupiter, FL 33458, followed by a religious ceremony from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM.