Raymond C. Harris, 90, of Fayetteville, Ga., passed away peacefully on Sept. 14, 2011. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Thelma Brannon Harris, and his brother Walter Harris. Left to celebrate his life is his son, Wayne Harris (Marilyn) of Fayetteville, many nieces and nephews, family members and friends earned over a lifetime.
Raymond was born February 3, 1921 in Franklin, Mass. to Marion Knapp Harris. When he was 5, his mother moved the family to Camden, S.C. He grew up, graduated high school, met and married Thelma Brannon in Camden. After his return from WWII, where he served in the Army Air Corp as an airplane mechanic and electrical instructor, he was employed as an electrician until health issues required that he find an inside job. Most of his years as an electrician were spent working in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He worked in real estate for several years. It was during this time they moved to Morrow, Ga. to be closer to their son.
Again, Raymond decided to change careers. He went to school at Georgia State University and graduated with a degree in education and started teaching a vocational class at George High School. He later moved to Atlanta Area Tech where he taught practical electricity and electrical code until he retired.
Raymond was an easy going man with a passion to help those around him. He loved to work in the yard and on projects around the house. After retirement, he volunteered for many years in a statewide program to provide free income tax assistance to seniors. He was a member for over 60 years of the Kershaw Lodge AFM in Camden, S.C.
He was a loving father, a great story teller, who never met a stranger and was an inspiration to many during his lifetime.
A graveside memorial service will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Camden, S.C. on Oct. 1, 2011 at 2 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, N.Y. 10018.
Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville –www.mowellfuneralhome.com
