Charlotte A. Harris

1951 - 2018

Lubbock- Charlotte A. Harris went home on August 23, 2018, as a result of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. She died as she lived with courage, dignity and grace. Her last days were good days filled with friends, laughter and a whole lot of love. She was blessed and was a blessing to those who knew her. Charlotte was born January 14, 1951, in Amarillo, Texas to Robert Edward Harris and Ruth Angus Harris. She was the second child with older brother Ted and younger sister Georgia. Charlotte was a life-long member of the Episcopal Church. Charlotte lived in Amarillo, Tulsa, Dallas and Houston, and graduated from high school in Athens, Texas in 1969. Charlotte graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1973. She attended law school at the University of Houston, graduating in 1978 and passing the bar the same year. After heading up the Continuing Education program at the law school, Charlotte found her true calling as a trial lawyer. She entered private practice in Harris County in 1982, focusing on criminal defense. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Houston, teaching trial advocacy in 1984-1985. She became a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist in 1987. In 1985, Charlotte was hired by Wichita County to start the Wichita County Public Defender's Office, the first program of its kind in Texas. In 1988, Charlotte moved to San Angelo and became an Assistant District Attorney with the 51st and 119th District Attorney's Office. In 1992, she was elected 51st District Attorney and served until 1997. After moving to Alpine, Texas in 1997, Charlotte practiced law with her husband Frank Brown. In 1999 she became an Assistant Public Defender for the Western District of Texas in Alpine. She retired from the office in 2011. Charlotte hired Frank Brown in 1986 as an assistant in her Wichita County office. They were married in 1987. They tried many cases together, and although their marriage ended in 2013, they remained close friends and were co-counsel on a death penalty case in Tom Green County at the time of her death. A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon on September 1, 2018, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 1101 Slide Road, Lubbock, Texas. Charlotte requested she be cremated, and her ashes will be scattered at a later date. Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ted, her sister-in-law Linda Harris, and her close friend, former mother-in-law Peggy Brown. Charlotte is survived by her sister Georgia Harris; her nephews, Michael Harris, Robert Harris and Angus Beaird; her niece Kelly Wolf; her God children, Sarah White Stillman and Dawson White; and her dear friends, whom she considered family, Holly Haning and Lance McIntosh of Lubbock, Barbara Stell of Dallas, Margi White of Telluride, CO, Sue Lubke of Brady, Pam Bladine of San Angelo, Susan Penney of Ft. Davis; Liz Rogers of Alpine, Pam Cook of Alpine and Kelly Trlica of Houston. In lieu of flowers, Charlotte requested memorials be made to St. Stephens Episcopal Church-Outreach, Save the Children or your favorite charity.