Shirley M. Harris

Shirley Mae Harris was born on Friday, September 18, 1935, in Baltimore County, Maryland, to the late James Henry Amos, Sr. and Beulah Edith Amos. She peacefully departed this life and went home to be with the Lord in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air, Maryland at eighty-eight years of age.

Shirley received her initial Christian education and training as a baptized member of the Pine Grove United Methodist Church in White Hall, Maryland, where she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She was later confirmed and received into the church as a full, professing member of the congregation. Her spiritual journey led her to transfer her membership to the John Wesley United Methodist Church in Abingdon, Maryland.

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

Shirley worked professionally for the State of Maryland Department Human Services in the Child Support Enforcement Division for many years. Some of Shirley’s favorite hobbies and past times were baking, cooking, sewing, traveling, and attending theatre performances. 

Shirley was a caring and beautiful person, inside and out. She lived her life to the fullest, loved her family unconditionally, and always looked out for her friends. She genuinely enjoyed being in the company and presence of family and friends and loved having extended conversations on the phone with them all. In fact, one of her greatest joys and pleasures in life was being able to spend time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly and spoiled rotten every chance she got.

Shirley leaves to cherish her precious memory two daughters, Jacqueline Harris-Brown (Albert) and Deborah Harris-Craig; three sons, Richard L. Harris, Jr., Anthony M. Harris, Sr., and George Harris; three brothers, James H. Amos, Jr., Melvin O. Amos (Rachel), and Clarence O. Amos; one sister, Florine I. Myers; seven grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild; two daughters-in-law, Carolyn Harris and Carla Smith; one brother-in-law Phillip Harris (Alma); eight sisters-in-law, Mildred Norton, Frances Lee (Earl), Anna Mae Davis, Helen Joyce Waldon, Janice Demby, Vera Davis, Lena Harris and Eva Amos Arizmendi; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Richard L. Harris, Sr., her parents, James Henry, Sr. and Beulah Edith Amos and her siblings, Lucille Smith, Delores E. Amos, Glenda L. Greene, and Vera M. Owens.

Your love and kindness knew no bounds. Rest in eternal peace.