Betty Palmer-Harris

Betty Ann Palmer-Harris, age 88, of Mansfield, Ohio, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on October 16, 2025. She was born on July 1, 1937, in Brownsville, Tennessee, to the late Leonard T. Taylor and Fannie M. Fain.

In 1956, Betty moved to Mansfield, Ohio, where she built a remarkable life rooted in faith, family, and service. She attended Mansfield Business College and developed a strong career, most notably for her dedicated work at Westinghouse, where she was admired for her professionalism, consistency, and integrity.

A devoted woman of faith, Betty was a long-standing and faithful member of Maddox Memorial Church of God in Christ, where she served with humility, strength, and steadfast devotion to God. Her spiritual walk influenced every aspect of her life, and she lived as an example of faith in action-always led by the Lord.

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. James E. Harris; her parents, Leonard Taylor and Fannie Fain; her grandparents, Titus and Dinah Taylor; her sister, Cherry Greenleaf; her two brothers, James Boone and Jerry Fain; two brothers-in-law, Vemon Greenleaf and Carl Hawkins; her children, Ricky Palmer and Latonya Palmer; and other loved ones who have gone before her.

She leaves behind her loving children: Larry (Glanda) Taylor, Cynthia Palmer, Sharon Palmer, Joan Palmer, and her granddaughter, Destiny Ann Palmer, whom she raised as her own. She also is survived by her devoted sister, Sheila Hawkins, along with numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends who will forever hold her close in their hearts.

A woman of integrity, structure, and faith, Betty lived her life with purpose and dedication. She was community-minded, resilient, dependable, and deeply committed to doing what was right-always standing on principle and faith.

Beyond her home and church, Betty made a lasting impact on her community. A lifelong advocate for civil rights, she was a dedicated member and former President of the Mansfield Branch of the NAACP. She founded the NAACP Membership Banquet in the 1980s and played a significant role in many initiatives to combat discrimination and promote equality. Betty worked closely with Senator Sherrod Brown and the local Democratic Party headquarters, championing voter registration and civic engagement. Her leadership helped achieve the renaming of a portion of State Route 30 as the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway, and she contributed to the installation of the Martin Luther King Jr. monument downtown—lasting tributes to her vision for justice and unity.

Betty's life was a testament to faith, strength, and service. Her spirit touched countless lives, and her legacy will continue to inspire all who knew her.