Reverend James Eddie Harris

James Eddie Harris, 73, of Fort Smith, Arkansas passed away peacefully and entered the Church Triumphant on January 19, 2021. James was born on September 7, 1947 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He graduated in 1965 from Northside High School, received an Associated of Arts degree in Music from Westark Junior College, and then received his Bachelor of Arts from Arkansas Tech University in 1970.

After graduating from college and while serving in the Arkansas Army National Guard (1970-1976), James believed that the Lord was calling him into the ministry and he began serving as Youth Minister and Music Director in several Southern Baptist Churches in Arkansas. Several years later he attended school at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas where he earned his Masters in Religious Education in 1979.

Following seminary, James moved his family many times as he served Southern Baptist Churches in Texas. After Southern Baptist Churches until 2002, James became a Local Pastor in the Arkansas Conference of The United Methodist Church in July 2003. Since July 2018, he has been a retired Pastor and an Associate Member of the Arkansas United Methodist Conference. At the present he is serving as Senior Pastor at Hackett United Methodist Church.

James was blessed with a singing voice and the gift of Administration and he has used those gifts as a minister. He enjoyed working as a Pastor and possessed the unique ability to work with people in small groups.

He is preceded in death by his parents James Edgar and Anna Louise Baker Harris; one son, Jerel Ethan Harris.

He is survived by his wife, friend and partner in ministry, Paula Harris of Fort Smith, Arkansas. The mother of his children Sandra Harris of Van Buren, Arkansas, their daughters Julie Marie Cobb and husband Don of Van Buren, Arkansas, Jenny Elizabeth Decker and husband Blake of College Station, Texas; two sons, Roderick Harris of Malvern, Arkansas and Matthew Harris of Fort Smith, Arkansas; one daughter Meagan Harris of Van Buren, Arkansas; four grandchildren, Emily Cobb, Ethan Cobb, Evyn Decker and Elijah Decker. One brother, Tom Harris and wife Dian of Fort Smith, Arkansas; two nieces, Amy Harris of Fort Smith, Arkansas and Sara Allen and Husband Nick, and their children Brody and Bailey Allen of Fort Smith Arkansas.

The family will hold a private memorial graveside service, under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. However, the graveside service will be streamed via www.facebook.com/stpaulumcfs on Tuesday, January 26, 2021.

To leave on online memory, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.

“He Served a God of Second Chances”