REV. DR. CURTIS WEST HARRIS

Rev. Dr. Curtis West Harris, 93, of Hopewell, Va., was granted his angel wings on December 10, 2017.

Dr. Harris was the last of six children born to Thelma and Sandy Harris on July 1, 1924, in Dendron, Va. He resided in Hopewell and received an education in its public schools. After graduating from Carter G. Woodson High School, he continued his education at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Va., and was eventually employed at Allied Chemical in Hopewell. Other education experiences included obtaining a certificate in Clinical Training for Pastors from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond; studying at the Urban Training Center for Christian Missions in Chicago, IL; and completing various courses at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va. Dr. Harris also received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1972 and an Honorary Doctor of Law degree in 1983 from the Virginia University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Va.

In 1959, the late Dr. George W. King and Union Baptist Church in Hopewell ordained Dr. Harris into the ministry. He began his spiritual call at First Baptist Church, Bermuda Hundred in Chesterfield, Va., where he ministered for ten years. He also led the congregation at Gilfield Baptist Church, Ivor, Va., for 33 years; and preached his last sermon at Union Baptist on Sunday, December 16, 2007, after 46 years as pastor.

Strong social, political, and religious consciousness led Dr. Harris to affiliate with and hold office in the following organizations: Hopewell Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, President; Carter G. Woodson Parent-Teacher Association, President; Union Baptist Church Sunday School, Teacher/Superintendent; Hopewell Ministerial Association, Secretary/President; Hopewell Improvement Association, Vice President/President; National Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Board of Directors/Vice President; Virginia State Unit of SCLC, President; Moses Life Insurance Association, President; Free & Accepted Masons, Inc. Shiloh Lodge #33 (Prince Hall Affiliated), Past Worshipful Master; Lily of the Valley Chapter #44 (Order of Eastern Star), Past Worthy Patron; Virginia State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Vice Chairman; Bethany Baptist Association and Allied Bodies, Moderator; Virginia State University Non-Boarding Students, Counselor; and Virginia Council on Human Relations, Director.

The civil rights work of Dr. Harris began as early as 1950 and coincided with his election to the office of president in the Hopewell chapter of the NAACP. Ten years later, an arrest led to a sentencing of 60 days in jail for his role in a sit-in at a segregated drugstore in Hopewell. In 1961, he became a member of the National SCLC Board of Directors, joined forces with the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and accepted nonviolence as the most practical means to fight racial and social injustice. He was arrested 13 times for acts of civil disobedience during his civil rights career.

By the 1960's, Dr. Harris had an interest in local politics and ran seven times, unsuccessfully, for a seat on the Hopewell City Council. Finally, in 1983, he forced the city to switch from its longstanding at-large system to a ward system and, in 1986, became the second African-American elected to the council. He became the city's second African-American vice-mayor in 1996 and was sworn in as Hopewell's first African-American mayor in 1998. On March 1, 2012, after 26 years of service to the city and to his constituents in Ward 2, Dr. Harris retired from his seat on the Hopewell City Council.

Dr. Harris is predeceased by his parents, Thelma and Sandy Harris; his loving wife of 65 years, Ruth Jones Harris; his brothers, Fletcher and Purnell Harris; and his sisters, Effie Conley, Eva Johnson, and Maria Vaughan. He is survived by six devoted children, Curtis W. Harris, Jr. (Anita) of Fayetteville, Ga., Kenneth C. Harris, Sr. (Renate) of Hopewell, Va., Michael B. Harris I (Patricia) of Ft. Washington, Md., Joanne H. Lucas of Virginia Beach, Va., Karen D. Bradford (Donald) of Fayetteville, Ga., and R. Michelle Pritchett of Waldorf, Md. Dr. Harris leaves behind an immediate family, affectionately called the "Harris Connection," that includes 23 grandchildren, 32 great -randchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. He also has a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will treasure fond memories of him.

Curtis West Harris has been deliberate, yet courageous in his life choices with a keen awareness of man's imperfections. The war-torn veteran of social justice can be described as one who possessed an open heart that was touched by the needs of all humanity. His tireless effort, humanitarian spirit, and unwavering determination are captured in the lyrics of his favorite Negro spiritual: "If I can help somebody as I pass along; if I can cheer somebody with a word or a song. If I can show somebody they're traveling wrong; then my living shall not be in vain."

Dr. Harris will lay in repose for public viewing outside of the doors of the Curtis W. Harris, Sr. Library at the Carter G. Woodson Middle School, 1000 Winston Churchill Dr., Hopewell, VA 23860 on Saturday, December 16, 2017, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A celebration of the life of Curtis West Harris will be conducted at First Baptist Church, 401 N. 2nd Ave., Hopewell, VA 23860 on Monday, December 18, 2017, with Chaplain (COL) James Palmer, Jr. officiating. His casket will be open for viewing for an hour beginning at 10 a.m. and his funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at the Appomattox Cemetery, 703 N. 21st Ave., Hopewell, VA 23860.

Funeral services are entrusted to the professional staff of the Bland & Tucker Funeral Homes, 1500 Arlington Road, Hopewell, VA 23860. (804) 458-5357. Cards and flowers can be sent to Bland Tucker Funeral Homes. In lieu of flowers,you can make a contribution to your favorite charity in Curtis W. Harris' name or to the Lucas Spicely Medical Fund. Lucas, 10, has cerebral palsy and is the great-grandson of Dr. Harris. Make checks payable to the Lucas Spicely Medical Fund and mail to Lucas Spicely Medical Fund, 2001 New York Ave., Hopewell, VA 23860.