Odell Harris

The Obituary

Odell Harris was born on June 6, 1926 in Bushy Fork Township, Person County North Carolina to her father Dorsey Pettiford and mother Judie Hester. Odell was raised and educated in North Carolina, and graduated from the Hillsboro Negro High School on June 1, 1945.

While living in North Carolina she met and married her husband Cyrus Harris who lived in Granville County North Carolina. Odell and Cyrus were married on November 10, 1951.  From that marriage the couple was blessed with two sons: Floyd Harris of Philadelphia, PA and Dr. C. Martin Harris of Austin, Texas.   Their beautiful union lasted 57 years until Cyrus preceded her in death in 2008.

When the family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Odell and Cyrus united with the Galilee Baptist Church in 1952 under the pastorate of Reverend Ernest J. Johnson. Odell was very active at Galilee, becoming a member of the Usher Board for many years as well as an active member of the Board of Missions.  She also served as a member of the Board of Christian Education, a Sunday school teacher and a Director of the Vacation Bible School.  In October of 1994 she received the Layman’s Award, which recognized her outstanding service to Galilee.  Additionally, Odell was very active in the Baptist Global Mission Bureau of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, and was honored with an award for her service to that organization in November of 1998.

 In addition to being a devoted mother and housewife, Odell was a registered Beautician with the State of Pennsylvania and a hairstylist for many members and friends of Galilee. She maintained her professional licensure from 1952 up until 2008, when her deteriorating health prevented her from continuing to style hair. Personally, Odell was an active fan of baseball and basketball and enjoyed watching these sports on television.

On Saturday, December 3, 2022, God in His infinite wisdom called Odell home, where she leaves a legacy of cherished memories to: her two devoted sons Floyd and Martin Harris, two grandsons Jordan and Evan Harris, a daughter in-law Susan Hill Harris, a sister MaeBell DeShazo of Roxboro,North Carolina. She was

preceded in death by her brother Thedford Pettiford and two sisters Estell Pettiford and Corinne Collins.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord!

Sorrowfully,

The Harris Family

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