D. Oakley Harrison

I certainly miss Mr. Oakley. I lived half of my thirty years in the beautiful upstairs back apartment which overlooked his small Strawberry Street yard. Mr. Oakley and I took many walks through the Fan District and he would treat me occasionally to lunch at Joe´s Inn. A great man with a wonderful story. His memory and presence continues on in the life of all those he knew and influenced.

I spent well over a decade living at the Oakley residence as a renter on the upper floor. Great memories of that time. I had lived yet another decade next door with Sanford Eberly. So Oakley and I became almost family. Over time he told me much of his story, his arrival into Richmond and many walks through the fan. He as very fair with his rent and was generous in providing luncheon meals to me at Joe's in. A great man he was.

Oakley Harrison was a man of his word, and lived everything he believed in. Uncle Oakley, you have left all your family with a legacy that very few people have done before. One of loving kindness, not just to family, but, to all you met; morals, and principals that came directly from the Word of God. You taught us how to embrace tradegy with strength and wisdom; you taught us how to see beauty where there seems to be darkness; how to put others before ourselves because thats what God said...

Uncle Oakley was really special to all of us. He loved his family and we loved him. He loved flowers and I love flowers, too. Most of the time, when he was visiting, he came by to see my flower gardens.

Uncle Oakley Harrison was a gentle, kind, and generous man. He loved his family, his church Grove Ave. Baptist, and also his childhood church Stony Hill where he was buried. He lived a good and simple life. He had lots of friends and family who loved him and will remember him always. We love you Uncle Oakley and know that you are living high on that mountain.
Your niece, Jeannie.

The Humphrey family misses Uncle Oakley's genuine kindness, unselfish support, and gracious spirit. He embodied Southern gentility and Christian grace, and we feel so fortunate to have known him. He always displayed a real interest in our lives--his "how are you?" was more than a courteous greeting--it was a deeply genuine and sincere curiosity that made us all feel as if we were the centers of the universe. Oh that we could all be so unselfish and generous. Thank you Oakley for being a...

Our family has a gigantic hole that can't be filled. For over fifty years he was in our daily lives. We have lost a precious uncle, substitute father, grandfather, great-grandfather. And we couldn't have loved him more.

Uncle Oakley...
A pillar of the Harrison family, a kind and loving friend, a giver of kind words and encouragement, and an inspiration to many. A life well lived…. I know that you are leaving behind a challenge to all of us, family...friends...and acquaintances. That challenge is to learn from your excellent life example and to carry on. Our task is to perpetuate your Christian ideals, your love of your neighbor, your pursuit of higher education and self improvement, and your ability to...

I married into the Harrison family
in 1947 and met Uncle Oakley shortly
after then. He was always a pleasure to be around and kept in touch. He loved his family and his
family loved him.