Virgil HARRISON

HARRISON Obituary "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1) A Time To Be Born: Virgil Cyrous III, was born March 17, 1915 to the late Ruben and Esther (Shehee) Harrison in Barnesville, Georgia. Virgil was the youngest of eight children, Annie, James, Milton, Ruby, Inez, Susie and Ruben. A Time for Education: Virgil was educated in the public school system in Barnesville. After his parents died, Virgil was raised by his oldest brother, James C. Harrison and his wife, Arcolar in Dayton, Ohio, where he attended Wilbur Wright Junior High School. Later, Virgil moved to Wyoming, Ohio to live with his sister, Ruby Wilks and her husband David. Virgil graduated from Portsmouth Ohio High School. Virgil was a member of the softball and basketball team and the Varsity "S" Club. He excelled in the Colored Track and Field Meets at Mill Creek Valley, winning many awards. Virgil was a member of the Fifth Corps Area Civilian Conservation Corps, helping to develop the state parks from 1934 thru 1935. A Time to Unite: Virgil was joined in Holy Matrimony to Lula Grace Dula on October 22, 1948. They shared 52 wonderful years of loving marriage and friendship. A Time for Service to God: Virgil received Christ at an early age and with parental guidance attended Mt. Siani Baptist Church in Barnesville, Georgia. Upon moving to Dayton, Ohio, Virgil joined the Pisgah Baptist Church. Virgil was an active member of First Antioch Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. He served as an Usher and worked on various church committees. A Time for Service to Mankind: Virgil was employed as a Crane Operator at Cincinnati Milacron for thirty-nine years from 1941 until he retired in 1980. During the 1957 baseball season, Virgil lead the amateur American League hitters with an average of .655 for the Cincinnati Milling Machine (Milacron) baseball team. Virgil also served as a basketball coach to enhance the growth and development of youth. His team was sponsered by Babe Baker. Virgil was the first African American Umpire for the Queen City Umpire Association in the National and American Amateur Softball Association of America. Virgil umpired in Cincinnati for twenty years. A Time to Belong: Virgil was fondly known as the Baby Boy, Hap, Wyoming Red, Lightening and Bullfighter by family and friends. Virgil was known for his gift of gab, his smile and laughter which affectionately touched and embraced everyone, especially the Roosters Channel Jumpers of the Affiliated League of the Emergency Radio Teams. Virgil loved to talk on his CB radio while driving or relaxing at home. A Time to Die: January 26, 2001, God called his faithful servant Home. A Time to Mourn: Virgil Cyrous Harrison, III leaves to cherish his memory a devoted wife, Lula Grace Dula-Harrison, two sisters-in-law: Marion Price and Frances Dula; nephews and their spouses: James and Dorothy Harrison, Richard and Melestine Harrison, Nathaniel and Nancy Harrison, Ralph Harrison, Donald Harrison, Frederick Freeland, Samuel and Denise Dula, Roderick Dula and Sanford and Tammy Dula; nieces and their spouses: Olivia and Chester Holland, Aristine Johnson, Carolyn Jones, Michael Baskett, Renata Joiner, Cathy Baskett, Sylvia Lynn Brogden, Elisa Howard, Danielle and Kevin McKinnon and Denise and Courtney Myrick; and a host of great nephews, great nieces, cousins and friends. Visitation Thursday, February 1, 2001, 10 A.M. until service time 11 A.M. at First Antioch Baptist Church, 1511 Gilpin Ave. Rev. Willis E. Fleming, Pastor, Interment-Spring Grove Cemetery, Jamison Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.