Al Harris

Al Harris was born September 17, 1951 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to the union of Clyde and Fannie Mae Harris. Al's family moved to Chicago, Illinois when he was a young man. He received his formal education in the Chicago Public School system, where he began his love of swimming and drawing. As a young man Al's grandmother Ada Minor instilled a love of Jehovah God in him. He dedicated his life to Jehovah and symbolized his dedication through water baptism on April 5, 1967, becoming a Jehovah's Witness. His love for Jehovah continued as he served him well his entire life. Al had a long theocratic history. He served at Bethel from 1972-1976. He served several years as a regular pioneer. His spirit of willingness allowed him to spend time serving where the need was greater. Al's love for learning and for encouraging others to apply themselves to their ministry was demonstrated in his years serving as the Theocratic Ministry School Overseer. It has been said by some that the teaching skills that he displayed while fulfilling this assignment were invaluable. Later he would serve as the Midweek Meeting Overseer, again displaying a love for learning and an enthusiastic desire to motivate others to press on to maturity. He will be fondly remembered for his emphatic phrase of “Carry on”. Al put his very soul into the delivery of his assignments. It was said that your senses of sight and hearing were involved as he delivered a talk. His gestures added such flavor and dimension. Who of us will soon forget "The Flood of Noah's Day" when asking for "A brick, a brick was to Babel" or seeing him climb that antena pole on top the Sears Tower as the waters of the flood rushed upon you and you knew you had a problem. "What is Behind the Spirit of Rebellion?" He would whisper into the microphone "the Devil!" He helped us to appreciate the dangers associated with the internet. "Just listen to it's name" he would say..."IN- TER- NET". Other phrases of remembrance include "If we are going to try to fix this world, then why pray for the new world"; "The Kingdom, the Kingdom, the Kingdom"; "God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve" and many others. Al’s favorite scripture was any of the thousands found in God’s word the Bible. All Al lived for was the doing of Jehovah’s will. He touched all that knew him and he will be dearly missed. On Sunday, April 30, 2017, Al Harris fell asleep in death. He was preceded in death by his mother, Fannie Mae Harris; his brother, Richard; his grandmother, Ada Minor; and a wife, Gayle Montgomery-Harris. Al leaves to cherish his memories, his wife, Carmen; four daughters, Tenille, Tarin, Sierra, Keyonnie; his father, Clyde; his siblings, Sandra, McGregory (Vira) and LaVonne; and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Al Harris

September 17, 1951 - April 30, 2017