Marie W. Harris
WINDSOR—Marie Wilson Harris of the 7300 block Maple Hall Lane died Feb. 6, 2009, in Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center.
She was born Feb. 2, 1928, to Anthony and Edith Wilson in Lawrenceville.
“Mama,” as she was affectionately called by her children, was the widow of Kenwood Harris Sr.
She lived a rich, full life and raised her four children, Mary, Kenwood Jr., George and Larry in the city of Portsmouth.
She always knew the importance of education and inspired her children to excel in school, sacrificed for them and was blessed to see all graduate with honors from high school and continue on to complete college.
After seeing that dream come true, she returned to college in her later years and earned a degree in early childhood education, inspired by the desire to spread her passion for education and her love of children to help other families in need.
With her degree completed, “Mama,” in 1989, opened the Tender Loving Childcare Center where she provided a unique brand of tough love and disciplined education to many young children in the Portsmouth area.
She served Portsmouth families for more than 15 years and inspired children to see God’s purpose for their lives and taught them to aspire to fully realize their true God-given potential.
She retired to Windsor to live out her life in a rural setting, reminiscent of her childhood home of Lawrenceville.
She was a “true believer,” and was a faithful member of Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk for many years.
As a tribute to her dedication to educating young people, her children have established a memorial scholarship in her name at Calvary Christian School system, Norfolk.
Donations to this scholarship are requested in lieu of flowers.
Survivors include two brothers, William and Sandy Wilson and two sisters, Margaret Walton and Bertha Nelson.
She was predeceased by her brother, Willard Wilson.
A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. today in Calvary Revival Church, 5833 Poplar Hall Drive, Norfolk, 23502, with Bishop B. Courtney McBath presiding.
Burial will be in Carver Cemetery.
The family will assemble at 10 a.m. at 732F Cherokee Road, Portsmouth, for the procession.
The remains will be placed in the church at 9 a.m.
Carlos A. Howard Funeral Homes, Norfolk Chapel, is in charge.
Condolences may be sent to www.carlosahowardfuneralhomes.com.