He was the sixth child of Leroy and Effie Hoffman Harris, of Augusta, Ga. Dr. Harris attended public school, including Richmond Academy and graduated with an Arts Diploma from the Junior College of Augusta (now Georgia Regents University). He received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Baylor University, Waco, Texas; his Master of Divinity from New Orleans Theological Seminary; and an honorary doctorate from Mercer University in 1977. Dr. Harris was founding pastor of Trinity Baptist Church-Biloxi, Miss.; pastor of Patee Park Baptist Church, St. Joseph, Mo.; and Briarlake Baptist Church-Atlanta, Ga., where he served 29 years until his retirement in 1988. While at Briarlake, he helped to sponsor 32 mission churches. Briarlake named the Harris Chapel in honor of Hoffman and Norma Harris and The Harris House, a residential facility for adults with special needs, in honor of Dr. Harris' early ministry. Dr. Harris officiated at over 2,000 weddings and many funerals during his career. In 2007, he moved to Hickory, where he and Mrs. Harris were members of First Baptist Church Hickory. Dr. Harris was very active in denominational and civic life. He served on the Foreign Mission Board; chairman of the Executive Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention; member of the Home Mission Board; moderator of the Atlanta Baptist Hospital Commission; trustee of Decatur Hospital, Mercer of Atlanta, Shorter College, and the Mainland Council of the Hawaii Baptist Academy. He received the Faculty and Alumni Award from New Orleans Seminary in 1974 for outstanding Pastoral Ministry. Hoffman Harris was a leader--a man of vision and determination. He was generous to friends and strangers alike. He had a keen sense of justice and modeled compassion and respect for people of all cultures and walks of life. He loved to travel, entertain, quote poetry and tell jokes. He found joy in his family, his faith and lifelong learning.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Norma Nuhrah Harris; daughter, Beth Harris Brandes and husband, Dr. Rand Brandes, of Hickory; daughter, Chris Harris and partner, Sally Hand, of San Francisco, Calif.; a grandson, Dr. Blake Harris Brandes and wife, Valerie Brender, of New York City; sister-in-law, Ruth Harris; several nieces and nephews; and his wife's family, whom he cherished: Wyolene Treadway, Norman Joseph, Carl Joseph and their families.
His three brothers, Leroy Harris Jr., Charles Harris and Dan Harris; and his two sisters, Carolyn Hefner and Grace Pearre, preceded him in death. His wife's brother, John Nuhrah, also preceded him in death.
The service will be held at Briarlake Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga., Monday, Sept. 30, at 11 a.m. with burial at Westview Cemetery in Augusta, Ga., at 4 p.m. The family will receive visitors at A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home in Decatur, Ga., Sunday, Sept. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Briarlake Baptist Church, 3715 Lavista Rd., Decatur, GA, New Orleans Theological Seminary, 3939 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70126, the Hawaii Baptist Academy, 420 Wyllie St., Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 or a charity of choice.
The family also wishes to thank Trinity Village, Hickory and Catawba Valley Medical Center for their compassionate care of Dr. Harris in recent weeks.
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