Richard L. Harris Sr.

Richard L. Harris, Sr. was born on Thursday, February 13, 1936, in Creswell, Maryland, to the late Paul Daniel Harris and Georgianna Irene Harris. He peacefully departed this life and went home to be with the Lord in the late evening hours on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air, Maryland at eighty-five years of age.

Richard received his initial Christian education and training as a baptized member of what was then the John Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church in Abingdon, Maryland, where he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He was later confirmed and received into the church as a full, professing member of the congregation.

He was an active member and dedicated officer who faithfully served the church over the years as an active member of the Board of Stewards (formerly the Church Council), the Board of Trustees (past president), the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Staff-Pastor Parish Relations (S-PPRC), the Gospel Travelers Male Chorus, and as the Chairperson of the Cemetery Committee.

His prior leadership experience within the church includes serving a Certified Lay Speaker, Lay Leader, and Trustee of the former Churchville Charge, which was comprised of both John Wesley and Clarks Chapel United Methodist Churches.

A product of the Harford County Public School System, Richard graduated from Central Consolidated School in Hickory, Maryland in 1954, where he met and courted his high school sweetheart, the former Shirley Amos. They were united in holy matrimony the following year, and from this union they were blessed with three sons and two daughters.

Richard was truly a jack of all trades. His professional employment experience includes working as the head custodian for his alma mater, Central Consolidated School. He is also the founder and owner of Harris Bus Service, Inc., a successful school bus company that has faithfully served the students of Harford County since its inception in 1971. Some of Richard’s hobbies and past times included fishing, hunting, exercising, traveling, and taking several extended vacations throughout the year.

Richard was a caring and beautiful person, inside and out. He lived his life to the fullest, he loved his family unconditionally, and he always looked out for his friends. He genuinely enjoyed being in the company and presence of family and friends. In fact, one of his greatest joy and pleasure in life was being able to spend time with his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly and spoiled rotten every chance he got.

Richard leaves to cherish his precious memory his beloved wife of sixty-eight years, Shirley Harris, two daughters, Jacqueline Harris-Brown (Albert) and Deborah Harris-Craig; three sons, Richard Harris, Jr., Anthony Harris, and George Harris; one brother, Phillip Harris (Alma); six sisters, Mildred Norton, Frances Lee (Earl), Anna Mae Davis, Helen Joyce Waldon, Janice Demby, and Vera Davis; two daughters-in-law, Carolyn Harris and Carla Smith; three brothers-in-law, Henry Amos, O’Neil Amos (Rachel), and Orlando Amos; three sisters-in-law, Lena Harris, Floriene Myers, and Vera Owens; seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and a host of others nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Daniel and Georgianna Irene Harris and his siblings, Paul Harris, John Harris, Calvin Harris, Doris Bailey, Edna Harris, Delores Gilbert, and Thelma Coleman.

What a legacy, what a life! You will be greatly missed.

The family kindly requests that masks be worn for the visitation and service. If you are unable to attend the service, the service will be live streamed on the McComas Funeral Home website.