Mark Daniel Harrison

Mark Daniel Harrison was born in Marietta, Georgia on March 15, 1960 to George Henry and Lettie Elleanor Pearson Harrison. He has one sister, Teresa Lynn Harrison Caudle. He grew up in Smyrna, Georgia, Eau Gallie, Florida, Huntsville, Alabama and Brewton, Alabama.

Mark was an athlete. He started PeeWee football at age eight and played quarterback on two championships teams. In junior high and high school he started in football, baseball and basketball.

Mark was a scholar. At T.R. Miller High School in Brewton he studied the more difficult courses to prepare himself for college. After graduating in 1978, Mark began his studies at Troy State University. In 1979 he transferred to Auburn University where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree and Architecture.

Mark was a professional. He began his architecture career with in Birmingham, Alabama. After being diagnosed with myotonic dystrophica at the age of 28, Mark found the physical requirements of architecture to be too difficult. So he decided to go back to school to pursue a degree in engineering. After completing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Mark began a ten year career as an environmental engineer with the Alabama Department of Emergency Management in Montgomery, Alabama. He built a home in Montgomery was able to live independently until retiring due to his health in 2011.

Mark was an artist. He began studying art at the age of thirteen and enjoyed creating works of art his entire life. He was a painter, a photographer and a potter. He created elaborate mobiles and constructed many one-of-a-kind works of art in various mediums. He photographed Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, the ruins of Sierra Ancha, the cliff dwellings of the Salado Pueblo Indians as well as lighthouses, bridges and churches on the east coast.

Mark was a traveler. While at Auburn, he studied in Mexico and fell in love with the culture. He climbed the Myan ruins at Chitzen Itza and visited Taxco, San Christobal and various other cities.

Mark was a collector. During his travels, he collected bells and wind chimes by Paolo Soleri in Arizona and various sculptures, carvings and textiles from Mexico. Mark enjoyed his collection of Stickley furniture and lamps as well as his Tonka Trucks and California Raisens.

Mark was a poet. He didn’t write very many poems but they honor his mother, his father and even his beloved cats. His style of writing was both humorous and emotional and was perhaps as close as he came to expressing his feelings for those he loved.

Mark was a unique individual. He appreciated beautiful plants, pretty girls and good cooking. His mom’s apple and lemon pies, homemade waffles and hashbrowns and potatoes and gravy were among his favorite dishes. We rejoice that Mark is now walking and running in heaven, throwing a football and enjoying all his favorite things. He is with his Savior, his Dad and his grandparents celebrating the life he lived bravely and the eternity he will spend in heaven.