Mary Elizabeth"Bess"Harris

Mary Elizabeth "Bess" Sheffield Harris was born Feb. 26, 1916, in Waller County, Texas, and grew up in Goose Creek, Texas. She married Buckner Harris and they moved to Baton Rouge, where they had three children. Mrs. Harris was a student in the LSU School of Landscape Architecture and for many years Dr. Reich brought his classes to see her gardens. In the 1950s, she was asked to redesign the entrance of the Louisiana State Hospital in Jackson, which was one of her favorite projects. For many years, she was involved in the Baton Rouge Garden Club, was a state flower show judge and won many blue ribbons and a tri-color award for her designs. She was renowned for her green thumb and every spring for many years had hundreds of tulips blooming in her front gardens. She also had a keen interest in architecture and decorating. She was a member of Chapter W, PEO, and was a charter member of Chapel on the Campus. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, John Peter and Margaret Bell Sheffield; and four brothers and two sisters. She is survived by her three children, Betty Johnelle Harris Norris and husband William C. Norris Jr. of New Orleans, Buckner Harris Jr., and Becky Margaret Harris Plauché and husband Emerson Plauché, all of Baton Rouge; eight grandchildren, Will Norris III of New Orleans, Johnelle Norris Brewster of Madison, Miss., and Lydia Norris Fairbanks of New Orleans, Buckner Harris III, Grant Harris, Guy Norman Williams Jr., Libby Williams Tobin of Greenville, N.Y., and Kate Ricks Falcon; and great-grandchildren, Buckner Harris IV, Quentin Harris, Paul Harris, Elizabeth Harris, Will Tobin, Andrew Tobin, Secar Brewster, Maxie Fairbanks, Henry Fairbanks and Joseph Falcon. She is also survived by her sister, Margaret Ann Sheffield Gregersen of Searcy, Ark.; and many nieces and nephews. The service will be conducted by two family friends, the Rev. Pat Lyle and Max Turnipseed. Pallbearers will be Will Norris, Bruce Brewster, Lydia Fairbanks, Buckner Harris III, Guy Norman Williams Jr., Libby Tobin, Buckner Harris IV and Brett Falcon. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 11000 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, on Friday, July 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation resumes at the funeral home on Saturday, July 14, from 11 a.m. until service at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to Alzheimer's Services, 3772 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 or Friends of Hilltop Arboretum, P.O. Box 82608, Baton Rouge, LA 70884.