Doris Elizabeth Norris Harris, formerly of 240 Camellia Circle, passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at Spartanburg Regional Hospital. She was born on January 10, 1943, in Cherokee County, South Carolina. The daughter of the late John Paul Norris, Sr., and late Olivia Amanda Harrison Norris Baker, she was the last of five girls and was followed by three boys. She was baptized at Philadelphia Baptist Church at an early age. She was a highly intelligent child, and despite missing school to pick cotton on her sharecropper father’s farm, she skipped two grades, graduating third in her class at Granard High School in 1959 at age 16. She attended South Carolina State College where she joined the Alpha Xi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, in 1960. After delaying college for marriage and to give birth to her first child, she moved to Washington, DC where she completed her education at Howard University in 1965. She earned her Master’s degree in teaching at Winthrop University in 1973 and did post-graduate work in a program for teachers at Clemson University in the 1980s.
Prior to her retirement, she taught in South Carolina public schools in Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union counties. She was a certified science teacher at the elementary and middle school levels. She also was certified to teach reading.
She leaves behind three children and their spouses Carmen V. (Steve Lowe) of Simpsonville, Albert C. (Dorcas) of Irmo, and Timothy S., Sr. (Rosalen) of Simpsonville. She also leaves 9 grandchildren: Ninika Harris, Elizabeth A. Harris, Joneshia N. Bethea, Albert C. Harris, II, Brett N. Harris, Bonnie O.E. Harris-Lowe, Mattie K.B. Harris-Lowe, Timothy S. Harris, Jr., and Amanda R. Harris. She also leaves behind a great-grandson, Albert White, of Detroit, Michigan.
In addition, she is survived by her sister Tecora N. Watts, brother John P. Norris (Earnestine), brothers-in-law Clifford Reese and Isaac Harris (Betty Joe) and sisters-in-law Phronia Harris Bradley (Howard) and Betty Ree Harris, as well as cousins and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by three sisters: Willie N. Wells, Annie N. Steward, Virginia N. Reese (Clifford), and two brothers: James R. Norris and Thomas W. Norris. She was also predeceased by her former husband Albert Harris, Jr., father-in-law Albert Sr. and mother-in-law Ethel Mae Foster Harris, sisters-in-law Nathaneal Harris Martin and Gwendolyn Harris, and brothers-in-law Larry Lee Harris and Hilliard Harris.
Our mother was passionate about the Word of God and education in church and the classroom. She stayed here on earth until the school bell rang. Now God has called her home to teach again.
Family will receive friends from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on Saturday, March 5 at the Philadelphia Baptist Church, 1195 Pacolet Hwy, Gaffney, SC 29340. She will receive Omega rites from the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority beginning at 12:30. The homegoing service will follow. After the interment in the church cemetery, the repast will be at Innov8tion Point, 345 East Floyd Baker Boulevard, Gaffney, SC 29340. Following the repast, Timothy and Rosalen will host family and friends at their home in Simpsonville, SC.
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