Yvonne Harris Meadows was born on November 29, 1936, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She passed away on December 29, 2025, after an extended illness.
She was the second child of Edward Montague Harris, Jr. and Lillie Mae (Hughley) Harris. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Alfred Augustus Harris, Sr. (Mary), Edward Alan Harris, Sr. (Delphine), one sister Dr. Gwendolyn Harris Middlebrooks (James) and her ex-husband and friend (Winston R. Meadows).
Yvonne spent most of her childhood living in and around the Grove Street housing apartments in Chattanooga near the Tennessee river. Fiercely independent from birth, one of her early teachers would remark and note back to her mother ... "this one must be handled with kid gloves".
In 1948, as her adolescent years began, the family moved to Atlanta for better opportunities related to the significant post-World War II economic and infrastructure growth (streetcars, early expressways, a municipal airport, etc.) that was emerging in Atlanta at the time. However, this was during the turbulent Jim Crow era in the South, so times would continue to be challenging.
She began her high school education at David T. Howard in 1950, where she excelled in English and the Arts. Her classmates included civil rights icons and trailblazers like Maynard Jackson, Lonnie King, Vernon Jordan and her lifelong friend Attorney Louise Thornton Hornsby. Yvonne enjoyed ballroom dancing with her friend Charles Marble and served as the head majorette in the David T. Howard marching band. She graduated with honors in 1954, receiving the "English Award" (presented by Rich's Department Store to the senior with the highest average in English). After graduation, she remained an active part of the alumni association, playing a leading role in the organization of reunion activities.
Yvonne received a scholarship and began her college tenure at Spelman College in 1954. The indigenous "Spelman Sisterhood" is where she nurtured some of her closest friendships (Joyce Thomas Bracey, Louise Thornton Hornsby, Johnnie Ruth Hearsey Shannon, Fannie Malone-Nash and Miriam Hutchins). While at Spelman, she was active in the Psychology Club, Swimming Club and Yearbook Staff. Her belief in the power of education, civic mindedness and keen political interest was sharpened in this environment. The late Reverend Dr. Norman Rates, who served Spelman College for 48 years as College Minister and Professor of Religion, once gave a speech in which he described Yvonne as one of the early pioneers of the modern civil rights era. He explained that she was one of a group of young "uppity" Spelman women in 1954 who boarded a Wheat Street Baptist church bus to register to vote in downtown Atlanta. They waited from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm since they had to allow any white person who arrived to register first. This fiercely independent woman reminded Reverend Rates of how badly they were treated as citizens of Atlanta in Fulton County. Later, Atlanta and the South became known for sit-ins and Yvonne's sister, Gwendolyn, who entered Spelman College in 1960, became a pivotal member of the "Atlanta Student Movement". Yvonne graduated from Spelman in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Elementary Education and would remain a dedicated and active contributing alumna her entire life. Her civic mindedness continued as she helped to support one of her high school classmates, Maynard Jackson, become the first Black mayor in the City of Atlanta. She was always one of the biggest supporters of her best friend Louise Thornton Hornsby as she sought office in the City of Atlanta. She also supported one of her daughter's friends, the now Hon. Michael J. Bond in his various bids for election as Councilman in the City of Atlanta.
Yvonne's passion for elementary education led her to begin teaching in the Atlanta Public Schools in 1958. For a time, she also worked part-time in the evening as a Substitute Postal Clerk (one of the first African American female clerks in Atlanta). She taught at a variety of elementary schools, including Lena Campbell, Goldsmith, Scott, and others for 32 1/2 years in some of the most challenging neighborhoods in Atlanta before retiring in 1994 at the age of 57. Her retirement calendar included inviting friends and family to her annual summer and fall timeshare getaways in Fairfield, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head where they enjoyed boating, fishing and general fellowship.
Following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Ozella Hughley and her mother, Lillie, Yvonne was an avid seamstress who not only made clothes for herself but was also known to sew for others in times of need. She even made her daughter's formal suits for various events in high school. However, confirming her fierce independence, she was a life-long learner who ventured into areas not typical for women at the time. She earned her real estate license in the early 1980's and supplemented her income as a teacher by working as a real estate agent. She was certified in motor-vehicle repair, roof-framing and woodworking. She used her hands and creativity for everything from painting and wallpapering, to stripping and re-finishing a bedroom suit and sending it to her son in Philadelphia as a surprise for his birthday. These skills and talents were crucial since she owned several properties and would work accompanied by her skilled "handy man" Mr. Robert Adams on many projects.
As a single parent, Yvonne saved any extras for the development and educational exposure of her children. Their upbringing included: ice skating lessons, piano lessons, tennis lessons, ballet, baseball leagues, reading workshops and summer travel programs. In 1974 when she saw the increase of drug use in her neighborhood, she did not hesitate to move them to a more stable environment. Her children cried at the loss of friends, but she did not blink or budge. She supported her children's education all the way through graduate school and sacrificed so that they would not be burdened by student loans. Her passion for education extended to her nieces and nephews, but she especially focused on the educational pursuits of her grandchildren. In their younger years, she would bring a bagful of projects, education materials and surprises every time she came to visit, exposing them early to pre-school educational materials. She helped to advise and guide them at every level of their education. While severely ill, she managed to send spending money and a hand-written letter of support to her granddaughter, Julianna, who was studying abroad for a semester in Australia.
Yvonne loved reading and crossword puzzles, and her favorite TV shows were the "Wheel of Fortune", "The Price is Right" and "Cash Cab". But the use of her hands for "all things creative" was her continued gift and at the core of all her passions. From an early age, arts and crafts (knitting, sewing, soap making, custom greeting cards) and being outdoors (fishing, gardening, raising earthworms) would constantly define her hobbies and smiles.
Yvonne was very comfortable in her own skin ... never feeling the need to draw attention to herself. She was perfectly content at home in her garden, planting a newly discovered plant in her already overflowing yard, watching her favorite TV game shows, reading, solving crossword puzzles, playing solitaire and keeping her children updated on the latest political news of the day. As technology advanced and with a little coaching from her children, she became very adept at using her smartphone and computer. She was able to shop for family and friends without leaving home. However, her most gratifying use of home technology was supporting the election of President Barack Obama through phone calls, texts and email. The world was changing and so was Yvonne.
On December 29, 2025, Yvonne passed away in the peaceful hands of God with both her son and daughter by her side. She would NEVER be alone during her illness. She is survived by her devoted and proud son, Terrence Neal Harris, her devoted and proud daughter, Leslie Julianna Meadows-Dalrymple (Kevin), two grandchildren, Brenston Dalrymple and Julianna Dalrymple, extended family (Prudence Harris, Nellie Joe Harris, Denise Davenport) and a host of nieces and nephews.
Homegoing Services
Services will be held at Providence Baptist Church, 1773 Hawthorne, Ave., College Park, GA 30337 on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 11:00 am. The interment (at Westview Cemetery, 1680 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta GA 30314) will immediately follow the service. Funeral guests are invited to return to Providence Baptist Church for the repast.
In honor of Mrs. Yvonne Harris Meadows, the family is kindly requesting that funeral guests bring donations for the Providence Baptist Church Food Pantry. Suggested donations are one or more of the following: new canned or boxed food items and/or toiletries. There will be drop boxes at the main and handicapped entrances of the church to collect donations as you enter for the homegoing service.
She was the second child of Edward Montague Harris, Jr. and Lillie Mae (Hughley) Harris. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Alfred Augustus Harris, Sr. (Mary), Edward Alan Harris, Sr. (Delphine), one sister Dr. Gwendolyn Harris Middlebrooks (James) and her ex-husband and friend (Winston R. Meadows).
Yvonne spent most of her childhood living in and around the Grove Street housing apartments in Chattanooga near the Tennessee river. Fiercely independent from birth, one of her early teachers would remark and note back to her mother ... "this one must be handled with kid gloves".
In 1948, as her adolescent years began, the family moved to Atlanta for better opportunities related to the significant post-World War II economic and infrastructure growth (streetcars, early expressways, a municipal airport, etc.) that was emerging in Atlanta at the time. However, this was during the turbulent Jim Crow era in the South, so times would continue to be challenging.
She began her high school education at David T. Howard in 1950, where she excelled in English and the Arts. Her classmates included civil rights icons and trailblazers like Maynard Jackson, Lonnie King, Vernon Jordan and her lifelong friend Attorney Louise Thornton Hornsby. Yvonne enjoyed ballroom dancing with her friend Charles Marble and served as the head majorette in the David T. Howard marching band. She graduated with honors in 1954, receiving the "English Award" (presented by Rich's Department Store to the senior with the highest average in English). After graduation, she remained an active part of the alumni association, playing a leading role in the organization of reunion activities.
Yvonne received a scholarship and began her college tenure at Spelman College in 1954. The indigenous "Spelman Sisterhood" is where she nurtured some of her closest friendships (Joyce Thomas Bracey, Louise Thornton Hornsby, Johnnie Ruth Hearsey Shannon, Fannie Malone-Nash and Miriam Hutchins). While at Spelman, she was active in the Psychology Club, Swimming Club and Yearbook Staff. Her belief in the power of education, civic mindedness and keen political interest was sharpened in this environment. The late Reverend Dr. Norman Rates, who served Spelman College for 48 years as College Minister and Professor of Religion, once gave a speech in which he described Yvonne as one of the early pioneers of the modern civil rights era. He explained that she was one of a group of young "uppity" Spelman women in 1954 who boarded a Wheat Street Baptist church bus to register to vote in downtown Atlanta. They waited from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm since they had to allow any white person who arrived to register first. This fiercely independent woman reminded Reverend Rates of how badly they were treated as citizens of Atlanta in Fulton County. Later, Atlanta and the South became known for sit-ins and Yvonne's sister, Gwendolyn, who entered Spelman College in 1960, became a pivotal member of the "Atlanta Student Movement". Yvonne graduated from Spelman in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Elementary Education and would remain a dedicated and active contributing alumna her entire life. Her civic mindedness continued as she helped to support one of her high school classmates, Maynard Jackson, become the first Black mayor in the City of Atlanta. She was always one of the biggest supporters of her best friend Louise Thornton Hornsby as she sought office in the City of Atlanta. She also supported one of her daughter's friends, the now Hon. Michael J. Bond in his various bids for election as Councilman in the City of Atlanta.
Yvonne's passion for elementary education led her to begin teaching in the Atlanta Public Schools in 1958. For a time, she also worked part-time in the evening as a Substitute Postal Clerk (one of the first African American female clerks in Atlanta). She taught at a variety of elementary schools, including Lena Campbell, Goldsmith, Scott, and others for 32 1/2 years in some of the most challenging neighborhoods in Atlanta before retiring in 1994 at the age of 57. Her retirement calendar included inviting friends and family to her annual summer and fall timeshare getaways in Fairfield, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head where they enjoyed boating, fishing and general fellowship.
Following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Ozella Hughley and her mother, Lillie, Yvonne was an avid seamstress who not only made clothes for herself but was also known to sew for others in times of need. She even made her daughter's formal suits for various events in high school. However, confirming her fierce independence, she was a life-long learner who ventured into areas not typical for women at the time. She earned her real estate license in the early 1980's and supplemented her income as a teacher by working as a real estate agent. She was certified in motor-vehicle repair, roof-framing and woodworking. She used her hands and creativity for everything from painting and wallpapering, to stripping and re-finishing a bedroom suit and sending it to her son in Philadelphia as a surprise for his birthday. These skills and talents were crucial since she owned several properties and would work accompanied by her skilled "handy man" Mr. Robert Adams on many projects.
As a single parent, Yvonne saved any extras for the development and educational exposure of her children. Their upbringing included: ice skating lessons, piano lessons, tennis lessons, ballet, baseball leagues, reading workshops and summer travel programs. In 1974 when she saw the increase of drug use in her neighborhood, she did not hesitate to move them to a more stable environment. Her children cried at the loss of friends, but she did not blink or budge. She supported her children's education all the way through graduate school and sacrificed so that they would not be burdened by student loans. Her passion for education extended to her nieces and nephews, but she especially focused on the educational pursuits of her grandchildren. In their younger years, she would bring a bagful of projects, education materials and surprises every time she came to visit, exposing them early to pre-school educational materials. She helped to advise and guide them at every level of their education. While severely ill, she managed to send spending money and a hand-written letter of support to her granddaughter, Julianna, who was studying abroad for a semester in Australia.
Yvonne loved reading and crossword puzzles, and her favorite TV shows were the "Wheel of Fortune", "The Price is Right" and "Cash Cab". But the use of her hands for "all things creative" was her continued gift and at the core of all her passions. From an early age, arts and crafts (knitting, sewing, soap making, custom greeting cards) and being outdoors (fishing, gardening, raising earthworms) would constantly define her hobbies and smiles.
Yvonne was very comfortable in her own skin ... never feeling the need to draw attention to herself. She was perfectly content at home in her garden, planting a newly discovered plant in her already overflowing yard, watching her favorite TV game shows, reading, solving crossword puzzles, playing solitaire and keeping her children updated on the latest political news of the day. As technology advanced and with a little coaching from her children, she became very adept at using her smartphone and computer. She was able to shop for family and friends without leaving home. However, her most gratifying use of home technology was supporting the election of President Barack Obama through phone calls, texts and email. The world was changing and so was Yvonne.
On December 29, 2025, Yvonne passed away in the peaceful hands of God with both her son and daughter by her side. She would NEVER be alone during her illness. She is survived by her devoted and proud son, Terrence Neal Harris, her devoted and proud daughter, Leslie Julianna Meadows-Dalrymple (Kevin), two grandchildren, Brenston Dalrymple and Julianna Dalrymple, extended family (Prudence Harris, Nellie Joe Harris, Denise Davenport) and a host of nieces and nephews.
Homegoing Services
Services will be held at Providence Baptist Church, 1773 Hawthorne, Ave., College Park, GA 30337 on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 11:00 am. The interment (at Westview Cemetery, 1680 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta GA 30314) will immediately follow the service. Funeral guests are invited to return to Providence Baptist Church for the repast.
In honor of Mrs. Yvonne Harris Meadows, the family is kindly requesting that funeral guests bring donations for the Providence Baptist Church Food Pantry. Suggested donations are one or more of the following: new canned or boxed food items and/or toiletries. There will be drop boxes at the main and handicapped entrances of the church to collect donations as you enter for the homegoing service.
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