- Date Of Birth: August 23, 1936
- Date Of Death: January 27, 2013
- State: California
Mrs. Harris passed away Sunday, January 27, 2013 at a local hospital.
Stella Jean Jackson Harris was born on August 23, 1936 to Sarah and Nemiah Jackson, Sr. She was very close to her parents, especially her dad. Her father would sometimes remark to her, “Look at your hands” and then placing her hands in his, would say “they look just like mine”. She was reared along with her four siblings: Nemiah Jr., George A., Betsy L. and Benjamin Jackson.
Stella was educated in Milton, Florida, where she attended Ferris Hill Elementary School, J.B. Turner Junior High School and T.R. Jackson High School. She was an excellent student and was sometimes called the “Teacher’s Pet”. During high school, she competed in the Annual Oratorical Contest, and won first prize each year. After graduating from high school in 1953, Stella attended Florida Memorial College (formerly known as Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College) located in St. Augustine, Florida. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in May 1957. While there, she served as Editor-In-Chief of her college year book “The Arch”, sang in the college choir, served as secretary and treasurer on the Pan-Hellenic Council, and served as Basileus in her college Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Upon graduation, Stella was employed by the Okaloosa and the Santa Rosa County School Districts in Florida as an elementary teacher.
On February 14, 1964 in Florida, Stella married Tommie Lee Harris, Sr. of Burnt Corn, Alabama. They later moved to San Diego, California. She began working in the San Diego City School District, teaching kindergarten thru third grade. She had good work ethics, was always professional and enjoyed working with children. On August 31, 1978, Stella received her Master’s in Early Childhood Education from the University of La Verne.
Stella loved the Lord.
not lecture her children, but rather taught by example. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother, Nemiah Jackson, Jr. and her step-children, Marlene Henrietta Harris and Sharon Marie Davis.
On Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 5:36 A.M., God called Stella Jean Jackson Harris to eternal rest. She was surrounded by her loving daughter Sara Jacqueleen Harris, her sister Betsy and brother-in-law Russell Johnson at Paradise Valley Hospital. She is survived by her daughter, Sara Jacqueleen Harris; adopted daughter Shirley Louise Harris; step children: Tommie Lee Harris, Jr., Travis Vee Harris, Ella Louise Harris and Terreance Lee Harris all of San Diego, CA, Bob Lynn (Valerie) Harris of Orville, CA and Willie Jefferson Harris of Pasadena, CA; brothers, Drs. George A. (Clemmye) Jackson of Coral Springs, FL and Benjamin (Tommie Louise) Jackson of Pensacola, FL; her sister, Betsy (Russell) Johnson of Decatur, GA; two aunts, Eva Parker and Berdia Gordon of Milton, FL and numerous step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
