Florence Beauchamp Harris

Florence Beauchamp Harris was born September 9, 1940, in Gulfport Mississippi, the eldest of seven children gifted to Rev. Dr. Louis S. Beauchamp, Sr. and Pearl D. Beauchamp (nee Bell).

The Beauchamp family settled in Milwaukee in 1944 and in 1946 the foundation of Florence's faith was established as a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, where her father was the founding Pastor.

Florence was a graduate of Rufus King High School and continued her education by earning a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and a master's degree from Marian College of Wisconsin.

For almost 70 years, Florence was not just a resident of Milwaukee, she was an active member of the community. A community she loved and held close to her heart, even after moving to Arlington, Virginia in 2012. Florence served her community in many ways and was a member of several service organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Phi Delta Kappa Sorority, Inc. and Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.

Florence's chosen profession was education, and she was a passionate educator. In 1974, she began a long and fruitful tenure of twenty-nine years with Milwaukee Public Schools. Special Education was a focus for much of her career in education but through much hard work and dedication she was appointed Principal of Milwaukee German Immersion School, from where she retired in 2003. Even after her retirement, former students, faculty and parents affectionately called her Frau Harris.

Always a woman of faith with a firm foundation laid by her parents, Florence listened to the call on her life to become a minister. After retirement, she attended Central Baptist Theological Seminary where she began her ministerial studies and started the work towards earning her doctoral degree in pastoral counseling. Health challenges prevented her from continuing her studies, but her faith remained a constant until her transition home to be with the Lord.

Florence Beauchamp Harris, who was a loving mother, nana, sister, godmother, friend and a second mom to many, left this world peacefully on April 28, 2022. She is preceded in death by her parents, and siblings Louis S. Beauchamp Jr., Joseph Beauchamp, Mildred Dupree, Linda James, and Michael J. Beauchamp.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughters, Shawn Harris and Dionne Harris, granddaughters, Raquel Smith, Simone Smith (Charles Hardy), Gabrielle Samolyk (Michael), great grandchildren London, Naomi, and Baby Hardy, her beloved sister Audrey Olive, goddaughter Adrienne Carr, a host of dearly loved nieces, nephews, other family members and treasured friends.

Florence Beauchamp Harris was beautifully human; brilliant of mind, witty of speech, opinionated and no-nonsense, charming and full of fun with a smile that could light up a room and a laugh that could be heard in the next. She was a wonderful blend of brains, beauty, style, and grace. In 2008, she was honored by Milwaukee Community Journal as a treasure and a jewel, and she was.

To honor Florence's memory, a memorial service will be held Thursday, June 16 at 1:00 p.m. at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Service Center 750 Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53202.