Stella B. Harris died on April 7 at the age of 95. She was born in Hale County Feb. 5, 1927 to the late Josie and Pettus Taylor. She was the sixth of eight children, all of whom preceded her in death. She was united in marriage to the late Willie Harris on March 4, 1950 in Hale County. To this union 12 children were born, four of whom preceded her in death, Curtis, Harold, Gerri, and Catherine. Survivors include her children, Willie (Aldene) Harris, Wren Harris, Leslie (Faries) Williams, Josie Harris, Mollie Harris, Homer Harris, Zelda Harris, and Derrick Harris; daughters-in-law, Michelle Harris and Rhonda Thomas Harris; sons-in-law, Harry Ward and Jessie Ruff; 18 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, adopted daughter Betty Williams; and a host of friends. She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized in Akron, Alabama. Upon moving to Cleveland, Ohio, she joined New Bethel Baptist Church under the Rev. Thomas Shevar before moving her membership to Christian United Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland under the late Rev. Dan Pete Wilson. She worked domestic and private duty jobs, along with raising her children, whom she loved dearly. She was a woman of compassion, willing to help anyone in need that crossed her path. “Grandma,” as she was affectionately called in her community, had a unique sense of style and grace about herself. She loved attending church, reading the Bible, cooking—she was one of the best in the kitchen, and traveling, though she never drove a day that her family can remember. She enjoyed trips to Las Vegas casinos, shopping for clothes, jewelry, watching TV (especially the Wendy Williams Show and Housewives), working word search puzzles, and talking on the phone. She was a woman of great wisdom and never lost that in her 95 years. Funeral services were held Saturday, April 23 at the First Baptist Church in Akron with Pastor Billy Thornton officiating and Washington and Paige Mortuary directing.
