Harold H. Harris

Harold Henry Harris went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 27, 2010, at age 77. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lucille Smith Harris; daughter, Janet Harris Lemoine and her husband Laurie L. Lemoine; son, Harold LaRue Harris; grandchildren, Luke Michael Lemoine and wife Catherine Tessier Lemoine, Kathryn Lemoine LeBlanc and husband Brien LeBlanc, Rebecca Jan Lemoine, Harold LaRue Harris Jr., and Heidi Harris; and three great-grandchildren, including Amelia Grace Lemoine. Also survived by a brother, Victor Harris Jr.; and sister, Sibyl Barnes. He was preceded in death by his father, Victor Mike Harris Sr., and mother Estelle Walker Harris. Harold was born March 17, 1933, in Newton Co., Miss. A graduate of Monticello High School, he lettered in football, basketball and track. He attended Mississippi State on an athletic scholarship, where he was a member of the football and track teams, the M Club, and Army ROTC. He married Lucille on Dec. 28, 1952. Harold graduated from Mississippi State in 1955 and later earned his master's degree from LSU. Recipient of the Outstanding Young Educator Award, Harold served as a high school vocational agriculture teacher in both Lexie and Crystal Springs, Miss., and Franklin and Baton Rouge. Throughout his career, he was actively involved in professional organizations, serving as president of both the Copiah County and St. Mary Parish Teacher associations. Also active in numerous civic organizations, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Crystal Springs Junior Chamber of Commerce. He was a volunteer firefighter. Always involved in a local church, Harold served many times as a Sunday school teacher, deacon and trustee. Most recently, he was a member of the Mission on Perkins. He was on the Foundation Board of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a member of Gideons International. Harold was very active in Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Life Scout and serving as Scoutmaster of Crystal Springs Troop 156; Franklin Troop 21 and his council's troop for the 1960 National Jamboree in Colorado Springs. He was a model of an ideal husband, father, and grandfather, and he will be dearly missed. Rabenhorst Funeral Home is handling arrangements in Baton Rouge. Visitation at The Chapel on the Campus on Tuesday, June 29, from noon until service at 2 p.m. Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements in Monticello, Miss. Visitation in Monticello will be at Tilton Methodist Church on Wednesday, June 30, beginning at 10 a.m., followed by a service at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Mission Church on Perkins, 10748 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 or New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Institutional Advancement, 3939 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70126.