Graveside service for Lydia Bates Harris, 65, formerly of Leighton, will be Saturday, May 11, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Wash Chilla Cemetery in Town Creek with Reynolds Funeral Home directing. Repast immediately following the services at Leighton Civic Center Main Street.
She departed this life, Sunday May 5, 2013. She confessed a hope in Christ at Mt. New Home Missionary Baptist Church, where she was baptized. She was of the graduating Class of 1965 from Leighton Training School and elected Miss LTS. After relocating to Dayton with her husband, Edward “Buddy” Harris, she joined Ebenezer Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. John Jackson Jr. Later, she became an honorary member of Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Andre Hayes.
She was employed by Stillwater Health Center for many years until she retired due to health issues in 1988.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Robert and Dorthy Bates; brother, Robert George Bates; father-in-law, Louis Henry; brothers-in-law, Henry Louis and O.C. Harris; sister-in-law, Mary Ester Jones; son, Edward (Boe) Harris Jr.; and husband of 46 years, Edward “Buddy” Harris.
She leaves to cherish her memory, two sons, Troy (Bridget) Harris of Dayton, Ohio, Jamar Harris of Columbus, Ohio; three daughters, Jacqueline (Kenneth) Jones, Paula Watts and Treva Myers, all of Dayton, Ohio; one sister Annie (John) Booker and one brother, Joseph (Brenda) Bates of Leighton; mother-in-law, Gurtha Lee Harris of Town Creek; four sisters-in-law, Emma(Ralph) McCoy, Charles Ann (Charles) Warren, Cora Jones, all of Town Creek, Lee Gurtha ( Mose) Witfield of Calhoun Ga.; one brother-in-law, Robert Earl (Margie) Harris of Athens; 17 grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins other relatives and friends.
