Mary Harris

Mary A. Harris died Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
She was born March 23, 1932, fifth child of Bass and Jennie Dunn Haren on Wolf Mountain, Georgia.
She was 93, residing in Epworth, Georgia at the time of her passing.
Mary Ruth, as she was known by the family, is survived by her daughter and youngest son, Mary Ellen Alexander of Epworth, and Robert Freeman Alexander of Bryson City, North Carolina. Her other son, Richard Hamilton Alexander preceded her in death.
She is also survived by her sister, Betty Haren Durham (Joe) of Greensboro, Georgia; nephew, Russ Durham (Monica) of St. Augustine, Florida; niece, Jill Durham Woods (Rob) of North Augusta, South Carolina; nephew, Jay Durham (Lee) of Washington, Georgia; great nephews, Jacob Woods (Rachel), Josh Woods, Drew Woods, Jack Durham; great niece, Caroline Durham; and great, great nephew, John Franklin Woods.
She has dozens of cousins in Fannin County and surrounding area and was grateful for her cousin Linda Jordan of Blue Ridge who was always available to help her.
While she had no biological grandchildren, Mary dearly loved being mamaw to "granddaughter of her heart," Dina Garrett. Her granddog, Ernie, misses her.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Bass and Jennie Haren; brothers, Delton J. Haren, W. Grady Haren, Fred Haren; sister, Genny Haren Grodzicki; husbands, L. Hamilton Alexander, B.B. Harris, Sr.; and son, Richard Hamilton Alexander.
Mary grew up and attended school in the Epworth community. She played basketball in high school and worked in the family store. She was a member of Epworth Methodist Church from childhood and was part of a group of teenagers in the church who raised the money for the church's first piano. The church was founded by one of her forefathers, Alexander Haren. She was the Conference Delegate as a teenager and performed many church duties until she moved to Atlanta. After her return to Epworth in 2013, she resumed attendance and supported the church restoration and building of Haren Hall.
After graduation from Reinhardt University, Mary moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she worked at Dow Chemical and Johnson & Johnson and taught ballroom dancing. She was married on Valentine's Day in 1953 and moved to Duluth, Georgia, in 1959. She was a long-time member of Duluth United Methodist Church.
In 1970 she began working as a Certified Professional Secretary at Honeywell in Atlanta and eventually managed a national distribution center in Memphis, Tennessee, completed a special computer training project in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and returned to Atlanta and retired as manager of a regional distribution center.
On New Year's Day 1994, she married the love of her life, B.B. Harris and they eventually moved to Bonita Springs, Florida. She loved going to the beach and traveling with him. She was an avid gardener.
Medicine was her passion. She wanted to be a doctor. Due to circumstances, she instead spent her life growing and eating organic food and reading medical literature. Her doctors had their hands full when she started discussing nutrition and supplements!
Mary was a long-time volunteer at The Alzheimer's Support Network in Naples, Florida. She especially enjoyed her weekly "gentlemen's club" activities. She also assisted many families in caring for their loved ones with dementia and was a great source of knowledge and comfort to many in the South West Florida community.
When she was young, Mary said she wanted 10 children. With each child born she reduced that number because she bore three independent, strong-willed children who did not give her a moment's rest. Her children volunteered her for everything at school and the county 4-H Club. She juggled many duties and still managed to meet hungry children at the door with fresh baked oatmeal cookies after school. She was an award-winning seamstress and made many of her clothes as well as those for the children. She supported her first husband's work, projects, and hobbies while he was always out of town working and she raised their children. She fed and nursed sick people in Duluth for years. She gave it her all.
She loved and protected her young, passed on wisdom that they didn't always heed and then sent them out into the world with good educations, the ability to reason and figure things out and some amazing skills (milking a goat...). She always said, "Aim for success, not perfection." For the lives she touched, she was perfection, because to know her was to gain something...some practical skill, wisdom, knowledge, positive reinforcement, or a plain good feeling.
She would tell you that her final moments were spent with two of her three biggest accomplishments in life holding her hands and the third one was head of the heavenly committee to welcome her as her energy and spirit returned to the Universe. She had many friends and continued to make friends until her last conscious day. Her friends may all rest knowing that she will be waiting for them.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, November 1, 2025. Gathering and visitation will begin at 11 a.m. with the service starting at noon at Epworth United Methodist Church, 585 Madola Road, Epworth, Georgia 30541.
Lunch will follow in Alexander Haren Memorial Hall at the church. Cremains will be interred at the Epworth Methodist Cemetery after lunch; everyone is welcome for a brief ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Epworth United Methodist Church Turner Park Endowment Fund, or the Epworth Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 163, Epworth, GA 30541. The family may be contacted at loveisit3@yahoo.com for further information.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinscobb.com.
Akins-Cobb Funerals & Cremations of Blue Ridge is in charge of these arrangements.