Dorothy Louise Hackney Harris

Dorothy Hackney Harris May 2, 1923 – February 7, 2017 Dorothy Hackney Harris, 93, of Wilson, passed away Tuesday. A graveside funeral service will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 10, 2017, in the Mausoleum courtyard at Evergreen Memorial Park, 2800 Nash St. N, Wilson, NC. The Rev. Charles Robl will officiate. The family will receive friends 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Thomas-Yelverton Funeral Home, 2704 Nash St. N, Wilson, NC and other times will be at Dorothy’s residence. Dorothy was born May 2, 1923, in Edgecombe County, NC, the daughter of the late Franklin and Ruth Hackney. She was a former Miss Tarboro and 1st runner-up in the 1944 Miss North Carolina Pageant. After her children started school, she completed her studies at Atlantic Christian College, graduating with a BS Degree in Education and teaching in the Wilson County Public Schools system for 10 years. Along with her late husband, J.C. Harris, Sr., she was co-founder and co-owner of J.C. Harris Pontiac Cadillac in Wilson, NC. Dorothy loved working with her husband, making the dealership grow and flourish into what it is today. She was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church – Wilson. Dorothy’s family was her pride and joy. She was the “glue” that held everyone together. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. Surviving are her two sons, J.C. Harris, Jr. (Jense) of Wilson and Richard Harris (Janet Brumfield) of Wilson; one daughter, Dorothy Welch (Ronald) of Raleigh; three grandchildren, Clint Harris (Tammy) of New Bern, Bert Harris (Crystal) of Wilson and Tyler Welch (Lauren Dietz) of Raleigh; four great-grandchildren, Kendall Harris, Tiffany Harris, Brylan Harris and Julianne Harris; and four nephews, Roger Simon, Billy Simon, Allen Perry and Jack Perry. She was preceded in death by her husband, J.C. Harris, Sr., her parents, Franklin and Ruth Hackney, and a granddaughter, Jamie Harris. The Harris family would like to express their thanks and deep appreciation to Joyce Williams for the love and support she provided as Dorothy’s caregiver, and to Hospice of Wilson Medical Center. Flowers are welcome and memorials may be directed to Hospice of Wilson Medical Center, 1705 Tarboro St. SW, Wilson, NC 27893 and First United Methodist Church – Wilson, 100 Green St. NE, P.O. Box 1423, Wilson, NC 27894. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Thomas-Yelverton Funeral Home, Wilson, NC. Online condolences may be sent to www.thomasyelverton.com.