Edna Anderson Harris

Mrs. Harris was born May 13, 1926 to the late Andy and Geneva Anderson. One of four brothers and sister who she helped raise in Iredell County, Agnes Wooten and the late Jane Whitehead and Bill Anderson. Edna graduated from Harmony High School in 1943. She was married to the late Lonnie Alexander Harris on Oct. 23, 1943. Survived by 3 children: Jim Harris (friend Shirley Faulk), Henry Harris (Faith), Joe Harris (Patricia), 19 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and 12 great-great grandkids. Lonnie and Edna farmed all their lives working tobacco and milking cows. In the 1980's Edna ran a hotline out of her home for farmers to call her all hours of the night to help them with financial burden. She got involved in with the Willie Nelson Farm Aid and helped distribute the proceeds to local farmers. She started United Farmers Organization Chapter in Harmony. In 1987 she got the Nancy Reynolds Award recognizing her work on behalf of struggling family farmers. Local Newspapers and TV Stations came and wrote articles on her. Pictures by Rob Amber are hanging in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Horton Foote and Charles Bronson's brother spent time with Edna on the farm writing a script for a TV Movie but never produced it. A delegation from Bolivia came and recognized her as a "Woman of the Year". She was declared a "Survivor for the Russian women" by an organization in that struggling land. Family and friends can gather at Joe Harris residence and services are scheduled Saturday at 11 a.m. at Clarksbury United Methodist Church with the Revs. Mandy Jones and Randy Goodwin officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 7 until 8:30 at Reavis Funeral Home of Harmony. The family would like to give a special thank you to Helen York and Texie Blackburn and care givers, Agnes Wooten and Carol Horton. Donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Rd, Statesville,NC 28625. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.reavisfuneralhome.com. Reavis Funeral Home of Harmony is serving the family.