Thelma Harris

A caring mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend, Thelma Harris, age 100 years and 7 months, transitioned from this life on September 19, 2021, peacefully at her home surrounded by her loved ones.

Thelma was born on February 4, 1921, to the late Annie Laura Grier and Wylie Harris, and was the second oldest daughter of nine children. She was educated in the Soperton, Georgia, Treutlen County public school system, where she excelled in her academics and played point guard on her high school’s basketball team.   Her graduating class totaled five students. 

Shortly after her graduation, Thelma moved to Harlem, New York, where she had her only child, Patricia Yvonne. She was a loving and devoted mother and spent the next several years as a homemaker, nurturing in Patricia a love for education.  She was an active member of her daughter’s PTA and never missed a parent-teacher conference. She wanted to share her love of art and music with Patricia, so she made sure she had tap, ballet, and piano lessons.  One of Thelma’s proudest and most rewarding moments was attending Patricia’s college graduation. 

Thelma was staunchly independent and radiated self-confidence. She was fastidious about her appearance and was always sharply attired and well put together. She had an eye for fashion and was an accomplished seamstress who enjoyed designing and sewing clothes during her time in New York.

Thelma believed in giving back to her local community, and she was a dedicated volunteer with the Red Cross and Meals on Wheels. She was especially moved by her volunteer work with Hale House where she worked with babies who were born addicted to drugs, cuddling them and soothing them and assisting them in their recovery.  She was so pleased to be recognized by Hale House for her dedication to these infants. She was also an active member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church where she and Patricia faithfully attended Sunday School and church services.

After Thelma moved to South Carolina to live with her daughter and son-in-law, you could often find her at the local park or walking around the local neighborhood because she never learned to drive being a true New Yorker.  She had a lifetime love of athletics and enjoyed playing golf and basketball. However, her greatest love was tennis. She worked hard to instill in her daughter, grandchildren, and great grands a love for this sport. She even gathered her great grands on the tennis court for tennis lessons in an effort to convince them how much fun the sport of tennis was.  Eventually she accepted and became content when she realized that she would be the only tennis player in her family.  Her love for tennis was so strong that even after she could no longer play, she would watch tennis matches on tv for hours. 

She was an engaging storyteller, and she often regaled her grandchildren with stories of her youth. She was a good listener and she never hesitated to provide a word of advice or a thoughtful critique. She also enjoyed working crossword puzzles especially Sudoku and other word games, and her mind remained sharp and active until she peacefully passed away.  Thelma will be missed but she will live on in the hearts of those who loved her.  She is now resting in peace with God.

Thelma was proceeded in death by her brothers, William Benjamin Harris, Clyde Harris, Dawson Harris, James Harris, and Henry Harris, her sisters Lottie Zell Harris and Christine Harris, and her grandson, Olaniyan David Swinton.

She leaves to cherish her memories her daughter Patricia (David) Swinton; grandchildren Ayanna Jamison, Aisha (Kedrick) Lusk, Malika Shumpert, Omari (Phyllis) Swinton, and Akilah (Cory) Nelson; her great grandchildren Malik Swinton, Adia Lusk, Mikhail Shumpert, Amir Anderson, Mikaili Jamison, Elijah Lusk, Adis Jamison, Omari Swinton Jr., Jaliyl Jamison, Kaelil Lusk, Kya Jamison, Nyla Swinton, Uri Shumpert, Kellis Shumpert, Jamir Swinton, Nasir Swinton, Cory Nelson II, Akil Nelson, and Akirah Nelson; a sister, Sylvia Wylene Harris; a brother, Lamar Kincy; and her beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins; a caregiving friend, Ms. Linda Haggins;  and a host of other relatives and friends

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