Elder Leon Harris

Elder Leon Harris was born on January 3, 1941 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to the loving parents of Sophie Luster and Paul Harris. He was educated in Sparkman, Arkansas public schools and was the Salutatorian of his high school class in 1959. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1960 to 1964 as a Field Radio Operator reaching the rank of Corporal and honorably discharged. In 1963, while living in the state of California, he met and married the former Bernice Dennis and from this union were born three daughters and one son.

While a resident of California, Leon continued his formal education receiving degrees and certification from Merritt College and Patton Bible College in Oakland, CA and studied Labor Relations at the University of California at Berkeley.
He worked for twelve years as a Chief Steward and Business Agent at Kaiser Aluminum in San Leandro, California. He served for twenty eight years as the International Secretary-Treasurer for the International Longshoremen's Warehousemen's (ILWU). Elder Harris was also President of the Northern California District of the A. Phillip Randolph Association.

Elder Harris was a member of Mingleton Temple, Church of God in Christ for forty years where he served as the Pastor of the Children's Church for twelve years, a Sunday School teacher for thirty five years, member of the choir, leader of the Hospital and Prison Outreach Ministries. He was licensed as a Minister under the leadership of Elder Vincent Devers and ordained as an Elder in the Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Bishop E.B. Stewart. He served as the Assistant Treasurer of the Northern California 1st Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ. He was a member and Minister at Manchester Church of God in Christ in the Manchester Community of Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Elder Leon Harris went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 7, 2015. He was preceded in death by his loving parents, one sister, Morine McClure (David-deceased) and two brothers, Clarence (Marge) Harris and Winfred (Mae Lois) Harris.

He leaves to cherish his precious memory: his devoted wife, Darnell Browning Harris of Arkadelphia, AR, three sisters; Shirley (Robert) Riley of Union City, CA, Bennie Lee Nettles (Clint-deceased) of Los Angeles, CA, Avanell (Bishop Michael) Johnson of Oakland, CA, three brothers; Harold Harris (Myrtle-deceased) of Los Angeles, CA, Calvin (Kathy) Bizzle of Rodeo, CA, Col. Jesse (Patsy) Newborn, retired, of San Antonio, TX, one son; Locassio Harris of Santa Monica, CA, three daughters; Tracy Harris of San Pedro, CA, Keischa Harris of East Orange, NJ, and Jada Harris of Atlanta, GA, two step-daughters; Pamela (Christopher) Knox of Arkadelphia, AR, and TaLisa Kelley of Dallas, TX, four grandchildren; Jasmine Dover of East Orange, NJ, Reginald Kelley of Oxford, AL, Ariel Knox of Dallas, TX, and Barquis Knox of Arkadelphia, AR, three great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Gennesaret Missionary Baptist Church where Rev. Fredrick Smith is Pastor and Rev. Charles Hood will be officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be in Piney Grove Cemetery under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home. Visitation will be at Gennesaret Missionary Baptist Church Friday, February 13, 2015 from 12 noon to 7 p.m. and family hour from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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