Retired US Army Major Charles L. Harris, Sr.

Born in Monroe, Louisiana on April 9, 1948, Charles LeVerne Harris is the son of the late Nellie Mae Harris and the late Lee A. Williams. He accepted Christ at an early age. He was well known in his community and excelled in musical and academic pursuits. As a student at Carroll High School, Charles was selected to participate in pre-college summer programs at Knoxville College in Knoxville, TN. He also played saxophone as a member of the Carroll High Band. Charles is a member of the 1966 graduating class of Carroll High School.

Charles received numerous college offers, including invitations to attend ivy league institutions like Columbia and Yale University. Ultimately, Charles accepted admission and began his studies at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in order to stay close to his family. While at Southern, he explored studies in the area of biology and bacteriology. He was enrolled through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and while a student, spent time training at Ft. Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. He was also a member of the concert band and the Pershing Rifles Military honor society. Charles graduated from Southern University and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army in May of 1970.

Charles' military career was exemplary, as he rose through the ranks of 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant, Captain, and Major. He served in the US Army Medical Corps where the motto is "To Conserve Fighting Strength". Major Harris achieved numerous awards and accolades for his leadership in managing resources for his command. He served in positions from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to Seoul Korea, and also served at the prestigious Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. Also during this time, Major Harris obtained his Master's degree in Logistics Management from Florida Institute of Technology, and taught courses in Medical Logistics at the US Army War College. Upon retirement at the rank of Major, Charles continued his career in the medical and logistics fields with jobs at the National Institutes of Health and a private corporation affiliated with the US Job Corps.

After retiring from civil service and corporate sector, Charles returned home to Monroe, Louisiana to help care for his aging mother. He subsequently moved to the Bossier City area where he enjoyed the quiet life keeping up with lifelong friends he had made along his numerous journeys and cheering on the achievements of his grandchildren. On May 19, 2025, while surrounded by family he slept peacefully as he was called home to be with the Lord.

Among those who cherish his memory are his four children, Gerard T. (Nicole) Harris Andrews - Austin, TX; Charles L. Harris, Jr. - Germantown, TN; DeWeylan J. (Romona) Harris - Parker TX; and Charlsie A. Harris - Tempe, AZ; A sister, Sharon D. (Victor) Harris Kirk, and two aunts Emma Merrells - Bossier City, LA and Alice Brown - Fort Worth TX; six grandchildren, Jasmine T. (William) Boyd, Charles L. (Phoebe) Harris, III, Reiko A. Andrews, Dasan J. Harris, Miles K. Andrews, and Cameron T. Lane; A sister-in-law Aleta Dwyer Carpenter and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Lee A. Williams, his mother Nellie Mae Harris, and his brothers Robert Mason and Jesse Carpenter.

The family is especially grateful to the staff at Willis-Knighton Hospital North, Willis-Knighton Hospital Bossier, and Cornerstone Specialty Hospital of Bossier City Louisiana.

Services will be held on Friday May 30, 2025 at Zion Spring Missionary Baptist Church - 913 Powell Avenue Monroe, LA 71203

Military committal to immediately follow at the Northeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery - 2412 US-425 Rayville, LA 71269

Services conducted under the care of Miller Funeral Home - 2932 Renwick St. Monroe, LA 71201 318.388.3000

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