Mrs. Merlyn Lavara Bishop Harris, 87 of Enigma, arrived in her eternal home on May 15, 2014. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, 2014, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Funeral Home for Funerals. Rev. Pete Jones and Rev. John Harrington will officiate with burial to follow at Enigma Cemetery. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the caregivers at Southern Care Assisted Living and members of the American Legion Post 21. The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 17, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
She was born on July 20, 1926 in Berrien County and was the daughter of Percy Jewel Bishop and Ethel Norris Bishop. She was the granddaughter of Robert and Mallie Thorpe Norris, Archie and Molly Bishop, and Joseph Turner (Daddy Joe). For 54 years, she was married to her beloved, Vernon C. Harris. All preceded her in death.
Mrs. Harris had a long active career in education spent in Tift and Berrien Counties as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, librarian, and director of curriculum. She enjoyed setting up the kindergarten program in Tift County. To expand her education, she studied and became a flower show judge and was an active member of the Pine Garden Club. She led a committee in beginning the South Georgia Native Plant and Wildflower Symposium, which is still ongoing today. This introduced several thousand men and women to native landscape and the cultivation of many wildflowers in South Georgia. During her career, she was active in many professional organizations, such as the National Education Association, Georgia Education Association, International Reading Association, and others.
Mrs. Harris was a member of the order of Eastern Star and served as a grand state officer. For a number of years, she also served as an officer for the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 21. Mrs. Harris participated in Delta Kappa Gamma for professional women in education. Her longstanding commitment as a member and volunteer secretary of the Enigma United Methodist Church led to her also being named an organizational leader. She attended many church district conferences.
Mrs. Harris loved and admired all of her family members for their individual values, especially her siblings and each of her children and grandchildren. They, in return, loved and admired her. She was “Sister” to her eight younger siblings, Jean Stoufer, Carolyn Brannen, Linda Burchett, Jim Bishop, Nell Pancake, Mary Beth Tucker, Charles Bishop, and David Bishop. Her two siblings, George Bishop and Juanita Crum, preceded her in death. Known to her loving children as “Mother”, Mrs. Harris is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Verno Belle and Harley Davidson; her son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Zena Harris; and her son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Toni Harris. She was “Nana” to her grandchildren Chad Barfield, Clint and Jenny Barfield, Grant Harris, Michael and Jamie Harris, Beverly Harris, and Heath Harris Spradley. She was “Big Nana” to Charlie Barfield, Bailey Harris, Parker Leigh Harris, Hannah Branch, and Garrett Spradley. She was preceded in death by two infant sons and a beloved grandson, Phillip Harris.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Enigma United Methodist Church, Enigma, GA 31749; or Hospice of Tift Area, P. O. Box 747, Tifton, GA 31793.