Ed W. Harris

The family requests that all who attend to wear MASKS and use SOCIAL DISTANCING

Ed Harris
“The Great Educator”

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Ed Willie Harris was born April 5, 1936, in Delhi, Louisiana, to Willie and Mary Harris. The family relocated from Louisiana to Pine Bluff, Arkansas when Ed was 11 years old. He spent his childhood growing, playing, and thriving in rural farmland. Ed kept his love for all things country and the outdoors throughout his life, with fishing ranking near the top of his favorite pastimes.

Proverbs 4:13 “Take hold of instruction, do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.”

Ed was smart, resourceful, and a hard worker, always, and understood from a young age the importance of a good education. He was determined to go to school despite not being able to attend during planting, plowing, and harvesting seasons. After graduating high school, Ed enrolled in AM&N College (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff). He earned a degree in Physical Education & Health and began working as a science teacher and football / basketball coach at Dumas High School in Dumas, Arkansas. Later, Ed completed graduate school and obtained Masters and Specialist degrees in School Administration. Those advanced degrees allowed him over the years to progress from teacher and coach to assistant principal, then principal, then assistant superintendent, then Superintendent of the Helena / West Helena School District (Arkansas), from which he retired in 1996. Ed spent most of his working years in Pine Bluff’s Watson Chapel School District and was a proud “Wildcat” for life.

Proverbs 18:22 “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.”

While in college, Ed met Leola Jackson, who immediately stole his heart. They were married in 1961. Ed and Leola enjoyed decades of blessed matrimony and together raised four children of their own as well as Leola’s three youngest siblings. Ed was a loving, dedicated father and husband, always putting his family first. He reared his children with a blend of strict discipline and plenty of loving care and understanding, aided by his robust sense of humor and an innate ability to lead by encouragement and example. All his children love him dearly and will forever appreciate the tender yet strong role model he provided them.

Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Ed’s personality was legendary. He was an eternal optimist: if there was a bright side to be found in any situation, he found it. He was generous with his talent, treasures, and time and was always the first one to volunteer, the first one to donate. Gregarious, curious, extroverted, and a gifted speaker, Ed never met a stranger. He left a positive mark on scads of friends, neighbors, and students whose lives he touched.

Throughout his life, Ed loved sports. He particularly enjoyed football, basketball, and track & field, first as an athlete and later as coach.

A photography hobbyist, Ed also enjoyed traveling. He and Leola were blessed to travel to many beautiful places, such as Aruba, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Hawaii, and many more.

Ed served six years as Commissioner of Little League Football for the city of Pine Bluff and enjoyed more than a decade of service with Lions Club International. Ed received numerous professional and civic awards, honors, and accolades. Some of the more notable ones include Arkansas Association of Education Administrators’ Distinguished Service Award; Arkansas Education Association’s Educator’s Award; Partners for a Better Pine Bluff’s Appreciation Award; Lions Clubs Distinguished Service Award; and designation as a Lions Clubs International Melvin Jones Fellow. He was also the proud creator of Preschool Preparation for Education, an innovative early intervention program for at-risk preschoolers.

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

Ed accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior while a young man and took seriously his development into a man of strong faith. He loved attending church and being as active in church work as he could. Over the years, he served as Sunday School teacher and superintendent, deacon, trustee, and Men’s Ministry chairman, and worked on innumerable boards and committees. When living in Pine Bluff, Ed was a faithful and active member of the Barnett Chapel Missionary Baptist Church and then the Kings Highway Baptist Church. After he and Leola moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 2009, they united with the Greater Friendly Missionary Baptist Church. Ed remained a committed and dependable member of Greater Friendly until illness prevented him from attending.

Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Graduation Day! On the evening of Wednesday, October 12, 2022, God Himself reviewed Ed’s transcript, confirmed that he had met all requirements for graduation into eternity, and welcomed him Home with joy and thanksgiving. We look forward to seeing him again when we join him there.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Psalm 116:15

The family requests that all who attend to wear MASKS and use SOCIAL DISTANCING

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