James Austin “Bembo” Harris, 57, of Ocilla died Tuesday, April 17, 2012, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 20, 2012, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Gary Cadwell, Rev. Anthony Dean and Dr. Danny Ray will officiate with burial to follow in Lawrence Cemetery. Carlos Dean, Jody Dean, Russell Warren, Michael Warren, Josh Moore and Mikey Moore will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Buck Gray, Michael Gray, Daniel Mobley, Kenneth Mobley and Van Stephens. The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 19, 2012, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Harris was born on June 28, 1954 in Tifton and was the son of James Daniel Harris and Ruby Ray Harris, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one sister and brother-in-law, Mildred and James Mobley. He was retired and a member of Pine Ridge Baptist Church in Enigma.
Mr. Harris is survived by his wife, Mary Gray Harris of Ocilla; three sons and daughters-in-law, Jessie and Laura Harris of Ocilla, Dewayne and Kristie Harris of Ocilla and Randy and Heather Gray of Tifton; three daughters and sons-in-law, Cherry and Randall Plair of Ocilla, Vickie and Tim Wood of Alabama and Terri and Louie Abney of Columbus; honorary children, Raul and Jessica Cordero, Tony and Wanda Webb, Michael and Tonya Horton, Tammy Watson, Jay Sinyard and many more; one brother and sister-in-law, Ricky and Nannette Harris of Ashburn; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Frances Harris of Tifton, Marie and Buddy Stephens of Lenox and Joyce and Wonnie Royals of Nashville; 20 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.