Reid Walker Harris Sr.

Reid Walker Harris, Sr., 80, of St. Simons Island, died Saturday October 16, 2010 at his residence. Graveside service will be held at 11 am. Wednesday October 20, 2010 in Palmetto Cemetery with Dr. John Law officiating, Pallbearers will be Mark Missiledine, Frederick Marlin, Walter Ashmore, and Dr. William Haley.

Born in Brunswick, Mr. Harris lived in Glynn county all of his life with the exception of the years he was away at college or serving in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Glynn Academy in 1948, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1952. He graduated from the U.S. Army Russian Language School at The Presidio in Monterey, CA. and stationed with the U.S. Army in Kyoto Japan. Mr. Harris went on to earned a Doctor of Laws degree from Emory University in 1958 and returned to Brunswick where he served on the Board of Directors at Sun Trust Bank and practiced law until his retirement.

Mr. Harris was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1964 and served for six years. During this time he was the principal author of several groundbreaking laws concerning conservation of the coastlands, including the Georgia Surface Mining Act and the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act of 1970. He served as head of the Environmental Section of Governor Jimmy Carter’s Goals for Georgia Program and later as Chairman of the Governor’s State Environmental Council. He was an early adopter of the concept of ecology and environmentalism, and authored a book “And The Coastlands Wait,” Which chronicles the creation and adoption of the Coastal Marshlands and Protection Act.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Doris Nelms Harris; his Mother and Father - Edna Walker and Augustus Myddelton Harris Sr.; his sister Anne Harris Tyler; and brother Augustus Myddelton, Jr.

Survivors include three Sons Reid Walker Harris, Jr. (Colleen), Michael Myddelton Harris (Debra) and Douglas Howell Harris (Melissa) all of St. Simons Island, nine grandchildren Reid Walker Harris III, Malia Raquel Harris, Arielle Alexis Harris, Alexis Anne Harris, Jessica Harris Bloom (Mark), Jason Anthony Lusher, Betsy Harris, Natalie McClure and Douglas Howell Harris Jr.; and one great grandchild, Michael Harris Bloom

The family will receive friends following the ceremony at Mr. Harris’s residence at 150 Wildlife Drive, St. Simons Island, GA. 31522

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Thornwell Home for Children, P.O. Box 60, Clinton SC 29325

Arrangements are entrusted to Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home in Brunswick, GA. www.edomillerandsons.com