Ms. Leola Harris

Obituary Leola A. Harris was born on May 15, 1931, in Scott, Mississippi to the union of William Bell and Hattie Iola Freeman Bell. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Robert Bell, two sisters, Lillian Smith and Ophelia Brown and eldest daughter, Mildred McCurry. Growing up in the segregated Deep South, Leola learned domestic work, farming and served as an associate teacher. She married Edward Williams in 1946 where she and her family were sharecroppers on a cotton plantation. In 1970, Leola loaded up eleven of her sixteen children and two grandchildren to follow her elder sister, Ophelia Brown to Kansas City, Missouri. Ultimately, her marriage to Edward ended as she sought a better life in Kansas City where she maintained a cleaning job at the Dixon Hotel and other businesses. In 1975, Leola united in marriage to James Harris and the two bought and maintained a home for forty-nine years. The fenced in brick house is legendary for large family gatherings, much laughter and lots of stories were shared among the children and grandchildren. James also preceded her in death. Leola was a member of the Forest Avenue Baptist Church for over forty years and was very active in her church. She was a loving mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend to many along her life journey, she will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She departed this life on Friday, October 14, 2022, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by seven sons, Edward Williams, Jr. (Dorothy),Garfield Williams, Sr. (Sheila), James Williams and Jimmie Williams, Sr., all of Milwaukee, WI, George Williams (Diane), Greenwood, MS, Rickie Williams (Karizma) and Earvin Williams, all of Kansas City, MO: eight daughters, Arlene Thomas (Frank), Diccie Keys and Leola Erby (Carl), all of Milwaukee, WI, Emma Davis (James), Toledo, OH, Dorriss Lyman, Ophelia Scruggs (Wiley) and Mary Williams, Kansas City, MO and Linda Cain, Denver, CO; one sister, Viola Jones. Leola' legacy includes eighty-three grandchildren, 234 great grandchildren, 154 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild, a host of other nephews, nieces' other relatives and friends. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, October 22, 2022, 12:00pm at Forest Avenue BC. Interment Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11am-12pm at the church. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ms. Leola Harris, please visit our floral store. Read More

Ms. Leola Harris

May 15, 1931 - October 14, 2022