Don Harris, 77, of Lexington, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2025, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, surrounded by loved ones. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Louise (Wilson) Harris; their son, Christopher Harris, of Madison, Alabama; and three nieces: Kathy Henderson (Ron) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Gigi Prince (John) of Hopkinsville, Kentucky; and Courtney Insell (Dustin), along with her sons he took part in raising as his own, Xander and Daxton, from Henderson, Tennessee. He is also survived by his nephews, David Hill (Susan) of Brownsville, Tennessee, and Derrek Wilson (Danyel) of Wildersville, Tennessee, as well as many cousins, friends, and thousands of students he taught.
Don was born on May 12, 1947, in Lexington, Tennessee, to Walter OC and Ida Faye Overman Harris. He was a selfless and thoughtful caregiver to his wife, Louise, until the end. Their love and dedication to one another served as a shining Christian example. Mr. Harris was an educator for over three decades, teaching at Westover Elementary, Montgomery School, and primarily at Caywood Elementary, where he taught science, health, social studies, special education, and spelling. He brought science to life in the classroom by housing live reptiles and various animals, teaching students how to make electromagnets from everyday materials, engaging them in projects like leaf collections, and surprising them with challenging homework tests. Mr. Harris loved his students inside and outside the classroom, providing students in need with lunch money, clothes, and supplies. Don Harris truly embodied the spirit of benevolence.
Alongside his wife Louise, who taught eighth-grade Language Arts for 30 years, they were a dynamic duo at Caywood, often joking that they taught half of Henderson County. Don attended Lexington High School and continued his education at Freed-Hardeman College and Union University, ultimately earning his master’s degree in special education from Memphis State. Throughout his remarkable career in education, Mr. Harris served as president of the local TEA and as chairman of the Henderson County School Board, fiercely advocating for teachers.
A longtime member of the Lexington Lions Club, Don received honors such as the Melvin Jones Fellow and Lion of the Year in Tennessee. He had served as a Deacon at the Broad Street Church of Christ, where he was a member for his entire life. In retirement, Don and Louise enjoyed traveling, with one of his most cherished roles being that of a father to Christopher, whom he adored and loved to brag about. Traveling with his family was one of Don’s greatest joys, especially attending sporting events for the St. Louis Cardinals, Memphis Tigers, or any of Chris’s teams from St. Louis, New York, Los Angeles, Biloxi and Jackson, Mississippi, and all in-between. Don had a passion for animals, owning and adopting many dogs and cats and giving them a loving home.
Don loved life, his students, his family, and most of all, his Lord and Savior.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11 AM, Friday, February 14, 2025 at Broad Street Church of Christ in Lexington. Interment will follow in Christian Chapel Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Pafford Funeral Home in Lexington on Thursday from 4 – 8 PM and on Friday at Broad Street Church of Christ from 9 AM until time of service.
