Obituary of Reverend Hattie L. Harris

Hattie Lee Harris was born on November 24,1941 to Timothy Loftin Sr. and Mamie Loftin at Mount Holly Memorial Hospital in Florence, New Jersey. She departed this earth, Thursday, April 6,2023. She was one of seven siblings, Timothy Loftin, Thomas Loftin, Alfred Loftin, Emily Dixon , Clarence Loftin, surviving sibling Bertha Scott. She was the proud mother to: Artess J. Harris, Charles E. Harris III, John D. Harris, Gary E. Harris (Francine). Additionally, she revered Janette Wilson as her bonus daughter. From her children, she has 13 grandchildren: Nakwon Harris, Eijuan Harris, Michael Waller, Anastasia Harris, Joseph Harris, Charles Harris lV, Rhythm Harris, Xavior Harris, Ashley Smith, Asiyanna Harris, Tihirah Harris, Akira Harris, and Gary Harris ll; 12 great grandchildren: Olivia Witt, Niquia Harris, Khalil Witt, Dykashi Harris, Mackenzie Harris, Ava Harris, Isaiah Harris, Janeija Harris, Adonica Raine Waller, London Waller, Brandon Waller, Ayla Briscoe, and one great-great grandchild: Kiyomi Harris. Her grandchildren were the light in her life. During her early years, she attended Florence High School. In 1982, she received her Missionary Credentials from United Holy Church of America. In May 1995, she graduated from the Manna Bible Institute. Thereafter, she became an ordained minister and served God until the end. She was an active lifelong member of Saint Paul Baptist Church. Throughout her tenure, she spent seasons of her life worshiping and serving with different ministries. While a part of her ministry at Greater Faith, she was President of Foreign Missions, where she kept in touch with young people from different countries. She took it as her responsibility to ensure that young people knew, loved and followed Christ. She always had an encouraging word and prayed for you before you had to ask. Her faith was her strength and it never wavered. Hattie loved God, her family, fashion, long-drives, traveling and fried fish. She was also known to be a great cook and baker with some of her most famous deserts being banana splits, seven up cake and coconut cake. Like the scripture, she trusted in the Lord - she was like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. Her sermons were known to be short, sweet, and to the point. No matter what her personal circumstances may have been, she would always say “I’m Encouraged.” To know Hattie, you knew she was down to earth, and she spoke her mind unapologetically. She loved a good joke and had a great sense of humor, even if she was the only one laughing. She was also a historian, who took pleasure in learning the genealogy of local friends and their families - she knew generations of people, where they lived, and how they were connected. She is forever loved and will be missed immensely by friends and family.