- Collection:
- Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection
- Title:
- Celebrating the Life of Essie Lee Brown Harris, January 2, 1923- March 7, 2012, Saturday, March 17, 2012, 1:00 P.M., Zion Hill Baptist Church, 6175 Campbellton Road, Southwest, Atlanta, Georgia 30331, The Reverend Dr. Aaron L. Parker, Pastor, Officiating
- Contributor to Resource:
- African-American Historical and Genealogical Society (Washington, D.C.). Metro Atlanta Chapter
Wesley Chapel Genealogy Group - Date of Original:
- 2012-03-17
- Subject:
- African American women--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
African Americans--Funeral customs and rites--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
Funeral rites and ceremonies--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
Funeral service--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
Mourning customs--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta--Genealogy - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- church records
programs (documents)
records (documents) - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Funeral program for Essie Lee Brown Harris. Birth date: January 2, 1923. Death date: March 7, 2012. Funeral date: March 17, 2012. Church: Zion Hill Baptist Church (Atlanta, Ga.). The Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection is a project of the Digital Library of Georgia in association with the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History as part of Georgia HomePLACE. The project is supported with federal LSTA funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:aarl_afpc_harrisessieleebrown20120317
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:aarl_afpc_harrisessieleebrown20120317
- Language:
- eng
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Holding Institution:
- Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History
- Rights:
-
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF
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January 2, 1923- March 7, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012 -1:00 P.M.-
Zion Hill Baptist Church
6175 Campbellton Road, Southwest Atlanta, Georgia 30331
The Reverend Dr. Aaron L. Parker, Pastor Officiating
Essie Lee (Brown) Harris was born in Unadilla, Dooly County, Georgia to Mr. Evans Brown and Mrs. Mattie Duhart Brown. She was a member of Big Poplar Springs Church. She attended Big Poplar Elementary School. She attended Hawkinsville High School in Polaski County until the 1Oth grade. This was the year her dad experienced declining health and moved to Belle Glade, Florida to live with their brother, Mr. Shib Brown, Sr. Essie finished Everglades High School in 1943. She attended Florida A&M University for two years. She then moved to Atlanta. She met her future husband, who was a friend of her brother. Essie and her family lived with her sister until she had her first child, Richard, Jr., in Atlanta, Georgia. The family moved to Utica, New York to live with Essie's brother, Mr. Hadley Brown, where she had her second child, Vivian. The family moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania where a third child was born, Carolyn. The family moved back to Atlanta and in 1950, a fourth child was born, Archie. In 1962, a fifth child, Mark Anthony Harris, was born , as the family settled into a new home.
Essie spoke often about the Brown-Duhart Family Reunion of 1987. The relatives from this part of the country got a tour bus and went to Utica, New York for a family reunion, after a side trip to Niagra Falls. Essie's brother, Hadley Brown and his wife, Mamie, were the hosts. A good time was had by all. Other highlights for Essie were the family reunions that were held in Atlanta in 1989 for the Brown-Duhart Family and a family reunion in Chicago with the Green Family.
Essie was a grade parent at the A. F. Herndon Elementary School, where
she eventually became the President of the PTA. Because she was unable to get the support she needed to finish college, she was determined that her children would go to college. As a result, her children achieved two Master's degrees, three Bachelor's degrees and an Associate of Arts degree. All of her children have won awards in their fields of endeavor.
Essie was an accomplished seamstress who made and altered clothes for many professional people. The apex of her skills was demonstrated when she made the debutante gown for her granddaughter, Contessa. The dress was truly outstanding.
She frequently talked about the various meetings and activities of the Harvel Homes Community Club, which functioned as her social club. You could tell that she was proud of this organization.
Essie was a consummate family person, whose nieces and nephews gravitated toward her. She especially loved all of the children and could never get enough of being around them. She was friendly with her neighbors. She loved to travel around the country to visit relatives. Whenever she needed a pick me up, she would say that it is time for a trip. She also loved to go back to Unadilla, Georgia and Hawkinsville, Georgia to visit relatives.
She was a good cook. Her favorite dish to bring to a covered dish event was broccoli rice casserole.
Essie was preceded in death by her husband, Richard E. Harris, Sr.; daughter, Carolyn E. Harris; son, Archie J. Harris; sisters, Margurite Reaves, Annie
P. Green, and Preshea Whitehead; brothers, Shib Brown, Sr. and Hadley
Brown. She is survived by daughter, Vivian A. Perkins; sons, Mark A. Harris
and Richard E. Harris, Jr. (Deborah L. Harris); granddaughters, Essica Perkins, Ajeenah Broadway, Angela P. Harris, and Contessa Allen (Lander
D. Allen); grandson, Mark A. Harris, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Briana Bagley, Jr., Ashley Harris, Michael Neal, Kelis Neal , Isaiah Allen , Joshua Allen , and Lander Allen , Jr.; a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, and cousins.
"I'M FREE" Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free I'm following the path God laid for me I took his hand when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work, or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembering joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah, yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life's been full, I've savored much, Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief. Don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me, God wanted me now, He set me free.
PRELUDE.................................................................................... Soft Music PROCESSIONAL ................................................... ......... ............ Soft Music MUSICAL SELECTION ....................................................................... Choir SCRIPTURE READINGS:
The Old Testament .................................................... Essica L. Perkins
The New Testament ................................................. Contessa B. Allen
PRAYER OF COMFORT .................... Associate Pastor Terrilyn D. Lemons Cascade United Methodist Church
MUSICAL SELECTION ....................................................................... Choir REFLECTIONS: (Please limit to two minutes)
Michael Cousins, Delta Airlines Representative Bobby Armstrong, Recreation Supervisor Darnell Adult Day Care Program
Through the Years A Tribute to Mother .................................................... Vivian H. Perkins Representative of V. Perkins .. ............................. Jacquelyn Davenport Representative of M. Harris........... ............................... Eugene Bowen Representative of R. Harris ........................................ Cameron Kelsey OBITUARY (Read Silently)
EULOGY............. .... .. ............ ... ............. . The Reverend Dr. Aaron L. Parker
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.......... ..... ............ ... ... ......... .Murray Brothers Staff RECESSIONAL
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Lincoln Memorial Cemetery 2275 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard, Northwest
Atlanta, Georgia 30314
Radcliffe~ Church
286 Hamilton Holmes Drive, Northwest Atlanta, Georgia 30318
Eugene Bowen, Jr. Terrence Harris Anthony Pasley
Mervin Smith Bill Dodson Cameron Kelsey
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The Harvel Homes Community Club
Zion Hill Deaconess Board
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The Harvel Homes Community Club
The family of Essie L. Harris expresses our sincere thanks for the flowers and other expressions of love during our bereavement.
MlJRR.-'\Y BROTHERS
FUNERAL H OME, INC.
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from,r o, Ca,,,!d, R.I. 11<'1r J-::S5'
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