Lee E Harris

In Mound Bayou, Mississippi, God blessed Sylvester Gray and Ola C. Gray with a beautiful baby girl on December 8, 1944. They named her Lee Esther Gray. She was the eleventh child of thirteen children. Lee Esther transitioned to eternal life on June 27, 2024, with her daughter Julia at her side. She is preceded in death by husband Willie B. Harris, daughter Yolanda M. Loftis, son David B. Harris, sisters: Irene Franklin, Lorraine Franklin, Beauty Royston, Ola Friday, Verna Turner, brothers: Huey Gray, Sylvester Gray Jr., Earsey Gray, and Eddie Gray.

Lee was known as Lee Esther, while growing up in a rural farming community in the Mississippi Delta. The Gray family owned their own land and farm, on which Sylvester Lee’s father taught her how to farm and garden. She worked alongside her parents and

siblings in their own cotton and vegetable crops, along with their personal garden. Lee developed superior cooking and seamstress skills from her mother, Ola C. Their household was religiously strong and her parents emphasized strong moral and ethical

values. They lived and demonstrated the importance of family love and family unity, instilled with compassion, empathy, consciousness, honesty and respect in all of their children.

At an early age, Lee Esther became a member of Wonders Homes Missionary Baptist Church. As a young child, she started singing in the church choir; she loved to sing. In her late teenage years, she became a member of a professional gospel singing group -

The Marshall Aires. Their performances were live broadcasted on the radio each Sunday morning.

Lee Esther’s first educational experiences and exposures were through Mrs. Henry Ella Cleggs. A generous loving woman, who used her large house to provide private lessons in music and early childhood education. After advancing from Mrs. Cleggs’ early

schooling, Lee Esther attended Mound Bayou High School, where she focused her studies on becoming a secretary. She was an excellent student and earned an “A” in both her typing and bookkeeping classes. At the high school, Lee Esther and her

brother, Berlin earned the reputation as the best dancers in their class - she loved to dance. Also, during her high school years, Lee Esther became a skilled beautician and cosmetic artist. She provided free services to her classmates and others upon request.

Lee Esther graduated with honors from Mound Bayou High School, in May 1962.

After graduation, she moved to Chicago, IL where she landed her first job at Montgomery Ward Mail Order House, as a mail order clerk. During the next several years Lee Esther became known as just Lee to her co-workers, friends, and other Chicagoans.

Additionally, shortly after arriving in Chicago, she met the love of her life Willie B. Harris, who she called Bill, and they married. She absolutely adored him and was a devoted wife and caring mother. To their union four children were born: Yolanda, Eletrice, Julia, and David. Over the next twenty-six years Lee and Bill shared their life

together until his passing. They provided a loving home environment focused on the teachings of Christian Science.

Lee and the family became members of the Tenth Church of Christ Scientist prior to her youngest children starting primary school. She had many roles in the Church, the most prominent being First Reader. As such, she conducted the principal part of the Sunday

services, and the Wednesday evening meetings. For many years, she also facilitated Sunday School service and transport for the elderly to and from Church. Lee has remained an active Christian Scientist throughout her life. Lee earned a Bachelor of General Sciences degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL in 1981. She earned a Master of Education degree from Loyola University in Chicago, IL in 1998.

During the year between degrees Lee was a stay-at-home mom and she worked in various capacities throughout her life. These included working for the State of Illinois as a secretary, selling real estate for Betts Realty as a realtor, teaching students who

attended Chicago Public Schools, and establishing her own marketing business. As an entrepreneur, she continued functioning as a financial planner while promoting the sale of NSA water filters, air filters, and other products.

From 1994-1998, she was a School Business Manager, which entailed helping Principals coordinate school budgets and expenses. She transitioned in 1998, after earning her Master’s and obtaining the State Illinois Insurance License. She began to

work as a financial advisor for then Investors Diversified Services (IDS) which is currently Ameriprise Financial. She acquired her certification as a financial planner, earning the CFP designation, then in 2004, she acquired a CRPC (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor) certification from the College for Financial Planning.

She worked as a certified financial planner (CFP) and a certified retirement planner (CRP) for Ameriprise Financial for twenty-two years before retiring in 2010. She accumulated many accolades during her tenure including: being listed in the 2005-2006 Strathmore’s WHO’S WHO publication for her leadership and achievements.

Lee was a compassionate individual who was dependable, competent, courageous, academically astute, and had a keen sense of responsibility and leadership. She maintained her childhood high moral principles and ethical values throughout her life.

Left to cherish her vibrant spirit and loving memories are: Two loving daughters: Eletrice R. Harris of Duarte, CA, Julia R. Harris, MD of Chicago, IL; three brothers: Charles Gray of Chicago, IL, Berlin Gray of Indianapolis, IN, Jesse Gray of Mound Bayou, MS;

son-in-law Madison Y. Loftis of Chicago, IL; three grandchildren: Arnie W. Loftis of Riverdale, IL, Christine S. Loftis of Memphis, TN, Elauna G. Harris-Jones of Chicago, IL; three great grandchildren: Madison C. Johnson of Memphis, TN, Mariah C. Loftis of Memphis, TN, Marie A. Loftis of Memphis, TN (who is currently residing in Duarte, CA), and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

A visitation for Lee Esther will be held Friday, July 5, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 West 103rd Street, Oak Lawn, IL 60453. Saturday, July 6, 2024; from 9-11 am is a Pre-pass with Continental breakfast available, as well as the second visitation at Blake Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 West 103rd Street, Oak Lawn, IL 60453. Following with a funeral service at 11:00 AM. A graveside service will conclude Saturday at 1:30 PM located at Washington Memory Gardens, 701 Ridge Rd, Thornton, IL 60430.