JoAnn "Jodie" (Fleming) Harris

Jodie was born on June 23, 1932, in Roswell, New Mexico, the oldest of eight children. She married Richard Harris, her husband of 62 years, after a chance encounter in a cantina in Juarez, Mexico. They began their marriage in El Paso, Texas, where they started their family. From there, they moved to Metairie, Louisiana until their retirement.

Jodie’s greatest joy was spending time with her children, grandchildren, and eventually great-grandchildren. She was affectionately known as YaYa to them and to others who knew her and loved her like a mother.

Jodie was a loving, hard-working, and generous woman with a self-effacing sense of humor. Her big heart led her to many volunteer opportunities in her life.

Night classes afforded Jodie the time to attend Tulane University, earning a Degree in Bachelor of Business Studies, the field in which she spent her career. Not only was she a Tulane graduate and fan, but was elected president of the Tulane Alumni Association, one of her first forays into volunteerism.

She was a life-long member of First Christian Church of Greater New Orleans, where she gave her time as the head of the Hospitality Committee and was a member of the Women’s Circle.

An avid reader, Jodie could often be found on her sunroom sofa with her cat nearby and a book in hand. She also loved writing and joined a writing group that would support her endeavor to pen a novel. Inspired by the many mysteries she’d read, she wrote and had published her own local mystery, Body at the Bonfire, it was not surprising that she found much joy and satisfaction as a VITA -Volunteer Instructor Teaching Adults to read.

Another special organization for which Jodie volunteered was The Ulster Project New Orleans. She and Dick hosted exchange students from Ireland, helping them to develop leadership skills and interact peacefully with teens in Northern Ireland and America.

Jodie loved traveling with her husband whenever possible, not only to spend time with their children, grandchildren and friends, but to explore the world. They visited countries in four continents across the globe.

Jodie is preceded in death by her beloved husband Dick Harris; her parents, Martin Van Buren Fleming and Margaret Lair Fleming; and brothers William Fleming and Jack Fleming.

She is survived by family who will greatly miss her, her children, Steve Harris (Patsy); Keith Harris (Anne); Rick Harris (Charo); Wendy Hymel (Jeffrey); Toni Jennings, her eleven grandchildren, her nine great grandchildren; and her siblings Sue Scott, Carol Fleming, Patricia Fleming (Hack), Mary Fleming, and Jeri Ruth Fleming Lawrence (John).

We also wish to thank the nurses, doctors, and staff at the Palliative Care unit at Ochsner Hospital and Compassus Hospice for the love, compassion and expertise they demonstrated to Mama and the entire family.

Please join us for Memorial Services at 12:00 noon, Saturday, March 1, at the Ministerio Nuevo Jerusalem Church (new Jerusalem), formerly known as First Christian Church of Greater New Orleans, 8121 Airline Drive, Metairie.