Marlin Jefferson Harris III

August 7, 1952 – May 18, 2017

Marlin Harris, beloved husband, father, brother and friend, passed peacefully into eternal life surrounded by his family and pastor at 11:38 on Thursday morning, May 18th. He is now free from the devastating effects of ALS, which had plagued him for the last three years of his life.

Marlin grew up near Marbury, Alabama and attended Autauga County High School where he graduated in 1970. He attended Samford University in Birmingham, where he received a BS in Business Administration in 1975. After graduating, Marlin participated in the Southern Baptist’s journeyman missionary program and served in Bangladesh as the mission’s business manager for two years. Upon returning to the U.S., Marlin worked as an auditor for the state of Tennessee. With his ultimate goal to return to the mission field, Marlin came back to Birmingham to earn a graduate degree in Hospital Administration at UAB in 1980. He then moved to Tupelo, MS for his residency qualification at North Mississippi Medical Center, where he resided for 4 years.

To complete his final step of preparation for missionary service, he relocated to Fort Worth, TX to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was there he met his future wife, Jean Griffin. They were married on May 25, 1985.

Marlin and Jean moved to Costa Rica for a year of language study before being assigned to Asunción, Paraguay, where he would become the administrator of the Baptist Medical Center. They would serve the citizens of this South American country for the next 11 years. In 1998 Marlin fulfilled his assignment in Paraguay from the Baptist Foreign Mission Board to organize the hospital and make it fully self-sustaining.

Upon returning to the U.S. in 1999, the Harris family moved back to Alabama on the farm where Marlin grew up. Due to his fluent knowledge of the Spanish language, Marlin soon joined the faculty of Prattville High School in 2001, where he eventually became chair of the language department. He also led a very active Spanish Club that was extremely successful in many state language club competitions. Marlin founded the Junior Civitan Club at Prattville High School.

Because of his continued love for the spiritual mission of the Baptist Hospital in Paraguay, he started a foundation to provide for its support from the states. He was also very involved in many ministries of his local church, Wadsworth Baptist, near Marbury.

Marlin had a deep allegiance to Auburn University, and for many years, he, Donovan, Becky and one of his children would make the pilgrimage to Jordan Hare stadium to cheer on the Tigers. Also, during the last few years of his life, he authored two books. They are titled Let the Beatitudes Be My Attitude in You and Jesus, Our Lord on Earth. He also wrote, and produced in Nashville, a Beatitudes themed musical CD.

Marlin is survived by his wife, Jean Griffin Harris, son, Marlin Harris IV (Caroline), daughter, Katelyn Harris Rogers (Chris and children, Eli, Rosie, and Sarabelle), daughter DeLena Harris, identical twin brother, Donovan Harris (Becky), sister-in-law JoJoyce Wisdom (Donn), niece Allyson Vamplew (Ryan and children Lucas and Joshua ), nephews Jonathan Wisdom (Emily and son, Nathan), Donovan Harris II (Elizabeth, daughter Kate Harris) and Taylor Harris. His father, Marlin Harris, Jr., and mother, Kate Harris predeceased him.

The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to Dr. Michael Crain, and the Princeton Hospital staff of the ER, MICU and SICU units along with the Outpatient procedure group, the hospital’s Step Down unit, Palliative care team and New Beacon hospice. Also, we are grateful for the excellent continued care Marlin was given at the Arlington Rehabilitation Facility located near Princeton Hospital. Most of all, we want to thank Summer McGalliard for her loving, passionate and consistent care for Marlin over the past year of his life.

Marlin’s Celebration of Life service will be held on June 4th at 2:00pm at Prattville First Baptist Church. Visitation will be on Saturday, June 3rd from 6:00-8:00pm at Ridout's Prattville Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Paraguay Baptist Medical Center Foundation at 4101 West Oaks Blvd., Suite 305, #175, Arlington, TX and the Alabama ALS Association.