William Thomas Harris, Jr., 80, died peacefully Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo after a short illness. Tommy was born on May 6, l936 in Oxford, Miss., the only child of Dora Fowler Harris and William Thomas “Bill” Harris, Sr. He grew up in Tupelo, graduated from Tupelo High School in l954 and from Mississippi Southern College, now the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg in l958. A patriotic American, Tommy served in the U. S. Army after college stationed in White Sands, New Mexico. He returned to Tupelo after service and worked for Purnell’s Pride Chicken. He was associated for many years with Marlin-Harris Lincoln Mercury in Tupelo. He spent many years as an insurance agent for Reed-Johnson Insurance Agency, retiring recently from Renasant Insurance. Tommy loved Tupelo and its people and was civic minded. He was a very active member of the St. Luke United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School for 30 years, was a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Building Committee and held forth frequently at Church functions. He also taught Sunday school at the Region III Chemical Dependency Unit for many years. He was a great supporter of Sanctuary Hospice House and volunteered every year at their Celebration Village Fundraiser and Sanctuary Village Shop. Blessed with a colorful personality and quick wit, Tommy loved laughter, celebrating life and giving to others. He understood what is important and meaningful and, in death, gave himself as an anatomical gift to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He will be missed.
A service celebrating his life will be held at 3 PM Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 at St. Luke United Methodist Church with his pastor, Rev. Ron Gill, officiating. Visitation will be from 2 PM-service time on Friday only all at St. Luke UMC. Holland Funeral Directors, Tupelo Chapel, is honored to be serving their friends.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years: Cherie Brown Harris of Tupelo; his sons, William Wayne Harris and Michael Brown Harris. Granddaughters- Jordan Ashleigh Harris (fiance’ – David Slowik), and Kelsey Elizabeth Harris. His sister in law, Glenda Brown Kelly and husband, Eddie Wayne. Several special nieces and nephews and Leigh B. Harris, the mother of his granddaughters. A host of business acquaintances, Church friends and extended family.
The family suggests that memorials be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P. O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS. 38802 or to St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1400 Clayton St., Tupelo, MS. 38801.
