Willie James Harris

05/27/1948 - 04/04/2021

Obituary For Willie James Harris

Carter Funeral Home announces the peaceful transition of Mr. Willie James Harris of Bullock County, Alabama.

Mr. Harris, 72, a veteran of the United States Army, and self-employed logger, transitioned into eternity on Sunday, April 4, 2021.at Jackson Hospital, Montgomery, Alabama.

Commemoration of Life Services will begin with a public visitation, Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm at Carter Funeral Home

The Farewell Celebration, including the rendering of Military Honors, will be held Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 2:00m from The James and Lucille Harris Memorial Park Cemetery, Midway, AL. Minister Celestine Robinson of the Church without Walls of Huntsville, AL will deliver the message of triumph The service will be live streamed on Carter Funeral Home Facebook page. (see clickable link below)

Willie James Harris was born on Thursday, May 27, 1948. He was the ninth of fourteen children born to the late James and Lucile Harris in Union Springs, Alabama.

At an early age, he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and joined the Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church in the Aberfoil Community.

Educated in the Bullock County School System, he had a genuine love for American History and Agriculture and in 1967 graduated from Merritt High School in Midway, Alabama. Upon completion of high school, Willie answered the call to serve his country and accepted his draft into the United States Army completing his preliminary training in Ft. Hood, Missouri. During his time in the army, he served in the 20th Combat Engineer Battalion as an Infantryman · for the Vietnam · War. His military· achievements in dude recognition from the Republic of Vietnam and the United States War Office awarded in 1970. After diligent and faithful service, Willie was honorably discharged in July 1971.

Upon his return stateside, Willie began to enhance a number of the skills learned in the United States Army by enrolling at the Chauncey Sparks State Technical College in Eufaula, Alabama where he earned an Associates of Science degree and certification in Heavy Equipment Mechanics in 1979. Though he was rich with skills and a solid technical education, Willie opted to become a self-employed Lumberjack until 2010.

A true southern and country gem, in his later life, he revived his passion for agriculture and utilized the skills learned during childhood by casually farming and raising cattle. Until 2019, when his health began to decline; he consistently maintained a large garden of peas, watermelon, squash, corn, tomatoes, and collard greens which would end up on the doorstep of family and friends as token of his love. An avid outdoorsman, he was a lover of animals and always had several that followed him everywhere. Willie was a firm, but down to earth and social man who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends. Known near and far, he never encountered a stranger.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, James and Lucile Harris, one sister, Clara Bell Shepard, three brothers, Frank Townsel, Clifford Townsel, and James Townsel. On Easter, Sunday April 4, 2021, Willie accepted the gift of eternal rest and departed his earthly vessel at Jackson Hospital in Montgomery, Alabama at the age of 72.

To cherish his memories forever, he leaves three children, Stephanie Harris-Kite (Comer) of Clarksville, Tennessee, Carla Rodgers-Grooms (Channon) of Stockridge, Georgia and Willie James Harris Jr. of Memphis, Tennessee; three sisters Rethelle Harris-Ellerbe, Alice Harris-Jones, and Lucile Harris-Smith; four brothers Joel Townsel, George Townsel, Donald Harris, and Oscar Harris; nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The Staff of Carter Funeral Home is honored to be selected to provide End of Life Services for the late Mr. Willie James Harris

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