Mr. Henry Harris, Jr. was born November 28, 1934 to Henry Harris, Sr. and Lola Mae Pollock Harris at Brewster Hospital. He was the third child and only son born into a loving and caring family that also included two sisters Catherine and Deloris and an extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins and beloved grandmothers Pearl West of Fernandina Beach, Florida and Ellen Casterlow Pollock of Yukon, Florida.
Known as affectionately as “Jr”, Henry grew up on Louisiana Street. He attended the Darnell Cookman Elementary School, the Davis Street Junior High School and Stanton High School. During his summers as a youth, he often worked with his Uncle Josephus Pollock as a caddy at several of the county clubs in Jacksonville including the Timiquana Country Club. Many of his summers was spent with his sisters at their grandmother’s Pearl home in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
In 1952, Henry entered the United States Army and after basic training, he was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany where he served with the 22nd Infantry. During his tenure in the service, Henry was a part of the army’s boxing team and won many boxing matches and awards during his stint. For his service in the army, he earned several medals including the Army of Occupation Medal and the National Defense Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and returned back to Jacksonville. He met and married Wilhelmina Mobley and they were the parents of five children.
He moved to Atlanta and worked at the historic Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta and lived for short time in Miami. In 1976, he moved to Washington, D.C. and landed a job at the International Club where he was the head bartender serving many of the nation’s senators, congressmen and other government officials for over 13 years. He ended his professional career as a chef for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health (NIH) Nutrition Department. His honors were many and he received commendations for his work ethic and awards including perfect attendance in his employment record. In retirement, he and his wife Barbara opened a catering company and served weddings and other special events in the Takoma Park area.
Henry joined and was baptized at the Promised Land Church in Takoma Park, Maryland. He was a very active member there for many years. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Catherine Edwards, a daughter Gladys Harris and wife Barbara in 2014. He leaves to cherish his wonderful memory his children Terri Mims, Henry Harris, III ( Cindy), Jack (Amanda), Gail Harris. Grandchildren Teon Harris, Monique Mims, Sanchez Mims, Tanay Mims, Jonathan Harris, Juan Harris, Ashley Patterson, Natalie Harris,Markell Harris, Macy Harris; great grandchildren: Willie Baldwin, Santerio Mims, Monai Rickerson, Brendan, Mykell, Miyail,Monay a loving sister Deloris Harris Hughes (Atlanta). and a host nieces, nephews, and cousins, in-laws and friends.
Internment Service: Jacksonville National Cemetery June 10th at 9:00 am.
