HENDERSON -- Lawrence Reece Harris, 89, of Henderson, died on Monday, November 14, at Duke Health Hospice in Durham. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 2 p.m. Interment will follow in the Union Chapel United Methodist Church cemetery in Kittrell, N.C.

Born in Franklin County on December 2, 1932, and with a childhood in Moulton, he was the son of Benjamin T. Harris and Luna Faulkner Harris. A graduate of Gold Sand School and Henderson Business College, he was an employee of J.W. Jenkins Gulf Oil Distributorship for his entire work career, serving for most of those years as a bookkeeper. He was a longtime member of West End Baptist Church, where he served a number of terms as deacon.

As a youth he attended Mountain Grove Baptist Church near Epsom, and he was baptized in Sandy Creek near that church. Throughout his life, he particularly loved visiting with relatives and enjoying the old landscapes of his youth and those of older relatives.

As the years passed, a favorite pastime was telling old family stories to his children and grandchildren. He grew up on a Franklin County farm in Moulton, and he loved to grow vegetables at his home here in Henderson. His tomatoes and cucumbers were much-enjoyed by family and friends.

He was very handy with many things. That certainly includes automobiles - the portable ramp in his driveway was well-used. He kept the family cars running well all the time, and he showed his children how to care for a car as well.

He showed great wisdom in his home life, work life, and church life. When he read The Bible for guidance or solace, he often turned to Proverbs.

Mr. Harris is survived by his wife of 67 years, Geneva Woodlief Harris; his daughter Barbara Harris Currin of Vance County (her late husband was Dave Currin); his son Douglas Lawrence Harris and wife, Karen, of Warrenton, Va.; his son Michael David Harris and wife, Meg, of Greensboro, NC; eight grandchildren, Jefferson Harris, Jonathon Harris, Benjamin Harris and wife, Cassidy, Christopher Harris, Rebecca Currin, Elizabeth Currin Whitby and husband, Aaron, Joseph Harris, and Samuel Harris; a great granddaughter, Daven Whitby; his sister Bonnie Sue Harris Ward (her husband, Percy Ward, is deceased) of Poquoson; and sister Marie Harris Hudson (her husband, C.B. Hudson, is deceased) of Franklin County; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by son Dwight Reece Harris of Henderson and son-in-law Dave H. Currin of Vance County.

The family will receive friends prior to Saturday's service, from 1:30 until 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of West End Baptist Church and at other times at the home of Barbara Currin.

Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons Jefferson Harris, Jonathon Harris, Benjamin Harris, Christopher Harris Joseph Harris, and Samuel Harris; grandson-in-law Aaron Whitby; grand-nephew Nicholas Harris Ward Costello; and nephew Percy Ward, Jr.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to West End Baptist Church, 619 Dabney Drive, Henderson, NC 27536.

Online condolences may be made at www.jmwhitefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are by J.M. White Funeral Home.

Paid obituary