Tommy L. Harris II

Tommy was born on November 27, 1943, in Henning, TN, the son of Tommy L. Harris I and Mattie Ann Mitz. He was the only boy and the baby of all his mother’s children, so he grew up surrounded by sisters that doted on him and loved him unconditionally. During Tommy’s childhood, the family moved to Ripley, TN, Texas, and then Cairo, IL, where he attended Sumner High School, played both basketball and football, and graduated with his diploma in 1964.

During his journey of life, he continued his education at Lincoln Land Community College for two years, majoring in psychology and then starting his career at the Illinois Department of Transportation. Tommy worked at IDOT for 35 years until his retirement. While in Springfield he met the love of his life, the late Ernestine Harris. They were married for 37 years until her untimely passing of cancer in 2017. Tommy loved to read. He had a special affinity for music, possessed a beautiful voice, and wrote several songs of his own. Tommy loved most sports, with an emphasis on boxing. After being introduced to the game of chess, he knew it would be his passion. Tommy touched so many lives through his love of chess, teaching his sons, grandsons, family members, and several kids in the neighborhood around him how to play the game. Those kids would later dub him with the nickname “The Cool Dad”.

Tommy was a great man and a wonderful father. Family was very important to him, and he would travel to see his children in different states and make sure that all his kids knew and loved each other. He was a kind and generous, intellectual man, with a wealth of knowledge, great sense of humor, and countless stories to make you laugh and brighten your day. His spirit and smile will be greatly missed, and everyone will love and cherish his memory forever.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ernestine Harris; father, Tommy L. Harris I; mother, Mattie Ann Mitz; brother, Willie Roy Harris; sister, Elnora Martin; and nephew, Weldon “Cheese” Harris, whom his mother raised like a son.

Tommy is survived by his children, Toni Harris, Vonda Kay Harris, Yolanda Anderson, Tommy Harris III, Erica Byrd, Rashida Lowery, Jabborah Harris, Toka Harris, and Kasha Harris; sons and daughters that he adopted as his own, Sharon Trease Ann Williams, Quinell Harris, and Pacie Spaulding and grandson, Troy Stapleton whom he raised like a son; 44 grandchildren; 70 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Susie Taylor, and Linda Kay Reese; and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews whom affectionately nicknamed him “Uncle Bubba”, which he loved very much.

Visitation: Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2022, at Butler Funeral Home – Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield. A Funeral Ceremony will follow at 12:00 p.m. with Celebrant Judy Woerner officiating.

Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.