Someone nice gave me some names of possible subjects for this column. Two out of the three agreed, and I look forward to writing their stories. The first was Mr. Michael Harris, an alderman for the town of Decatur, and his lovely wife Anita, who is a medical technician for Meridian Medical. One interesting thing about both of them is the fact that they each have many siblings!
Michael Harris, originally from Union, was born September 2, 1963, to A.C. and Ornellist (“Mert”) Moncrief Harris. Michael’s father was a mortician for Stephens Funeral Home for 28 years, then at Latimer F. Home, in Meridian, for four years. He passed away in 1992. His mother died in 2012. Michael’s has twelve siblings, all of which are still living except the youngest.
Michael graduated from Union High School in 1982. He played football, basketball, baseball, ran track, and enjoyed high school. The young athlete finished Clarke College in 1984, after attending on a basketball and baseball scholarship. After working as a teacher’s aide for Head Start for four years, he was employed at Tri-C wood plant a year or two, before moving on to work for Peavey eight years. Four years at La-Z-Boy was the last job he had before his position at ESCO, where he has been almost 22 years. He has worked in the Melting Department about 21 of those years, always working the night shift.
Michael says he has always appreciated his job, a good, interesting one, working with good people. Also, all through the years, after his experience with his father, Mr. Harris has helped at funeral homes, serving as funeral director when needed.
Mrs. Anita Harris calls Decatur home. Born September 29, 1966, she is the daughter of Ms. Clinty Lois Hawkins Taylor. Her mother passed away May 1990. Anita also has twelve siblings, with one deceased.
Anita was active in the BETA Club all four years. Voted Homecoming Queen as a senior, she graduated 1984 from Decatur High School. After graduating from East Central Junior College, she went on to Jackson State University to earn her B.S. in Biology in 1989. Continually making the Dean’s list or President’s list, Anita did her last semester internship at River Oaks in physical therapy.
Anita and Michael met at church early on. She attended Decatur Baptist on Medgar Evers Drive, while Michael and his family attended Union Grove Baptist Church in Union, Mississippi. Years later, they were married in 1988, moved to Decatur to live, and Anita worked in the Physical Therapy Department at Rush Hospital for six years before returning to school to become a nurse. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Nursing before working at Riley Hospital six years. Anita has been Dr. Terry French’s Medical Tech at Meridian Medical now for sixteen years.
The Harrises have two children, Jacoby, born January 5, 1989, and Jaada, born January 25, 1998. They are far apart in age, but Anita said, “Jacoby was proud to have a little sister.” Jacoby graduated from Newton County High School in 2007, after playing basketball and winning awards. He attended East Central Community College for a semester before dropping out to work at the chicken plant. That experience moved him to begin attendance at Jones County Junior College, after paying his debt at ECCC.
After a while at JCJC, Jacoby formed a relationship with a young lady, left college and began employment at Howard Industries in Laurel. The Harrises have two grandchildren at this time. Jacoby’s daughter Makyleigh is eight years old, and her half-brother Kaden is ten.
Jacoby’s little sister Jaada graduated from Newton County High School in 2016, where she, like her mama, was active in the BETA Club for four years and was a Maid in the Homecoming Court her sophomore year. Anita enjoyed going with Jaada and the NCHS Chorus when they sang in New York City at Carnegie Hall. In the Distinguished Young Woman Pageant, Jaada placed and received a scholarship. Also in her senior year, she was awarded a vocational-technical scholarship. Beginning at ECCC, Jaada transferred to JCJC, and is now at the Mississippi University for Women, working toward her graduation in 2021 with a degree in Exercise Science.
Observing a stable married couple, devoted to each other and their families, it is easy to see how much their Christian faith means to them. Michael told me, “We had to go to church every Sunday. One particular Sunday, the preacher gave a good message. I just felt something from it. I went up and gave the preacher my hand and gave God my heart, and it just flowed from there.”
After he became married, the pastor, Rev. Carl Smith, asked if he wanted to be a deacon. After prayer, he said he would give it a try, believing the Lord would “lead me on in the right direction.” He has served as a deacon since 1989. Michael was Assistant Sunday School Superintendent at one time and sang in the choir. The Harrises at first attended both churches, then they moved to join the Decatur Missionary Baptist Church, where Rev. Terry Anderson has pastored for eleven years.
Anita told me she also was taken to church every Sunday, where she participated in Sunday School, “Red Circle and Sunshine Band,” youth choir, and joined the church at an early age. However, she recalled, “Jacoby was a teenager. I could see him changing. I was concerned. One day, sitting I church, I felt the Lord say, ‘He’s gonna be all right and everything else, too.’ And that’s when I felt like I was really saved.” I commented, “It’s so good to know God’s got you,” to which she replied, “Yes, it helps you deal with a lot of things.” Anita teaches Sunday School, and the Harris children also attend church where they live. Having a volunteer spirit, she recently became a member of the Decatur Woman’s Progressive Club. Very active in their church, they are also supportive of their community.
Michael Harris had to educate me as to what aldermen do, as he is an elected alderman of the town of Decatur. Mrs. Eleanor Russell retired and asked him to finish the last two years of her term in 2017. Then he was voted in, with this being his first full term. His ward is Ward 3, where he helps to handle town business, taking care of the streets, and maintaining his area.
I asked the Harrises about their “biggest miracle.” Michael replied, “We’ve managed to overcome a lot of things we thought we wouldn’t be able to handle. But the Lord helped us to overcome and do a lot.” Anita added, “For me, I think it was the death of my mom. I was only 22, when she died of a heart attack.” The Harrises took in her little sisters, Quandice and Nickie, who were still in high school. After graduating from high school and college, they are now both married and have families.
Thank God for helping families like Michael and Anita Harris, who, with love and stability, have truly done a lot.
Live for Jesus! He’s coming soon!
You may contact me at lagnesrussell@gmail.com or 601-635-3282.
