William Harris, Jr.

Celebration of Life

for

William Harris Jr.

Sunrise: November 16, 1940- Sunset: March 2, 2021

William Harris Jr. was affectionately known as “Mickey” by his family and close friends.

He was the son of the late, William Harris Sr. and Nettie B. Harris.

William was born on November 16, 1940, in Branchville, Virginia. He departed this life on March 2, 2021, after a brief illness.

William received his education in the South Hampton County public school system, but moved to Baltimore from Virginia, at a very young age, where he first worked a construction job, at the JC Construction Company. He eventually became a longshoreman and member of the local 333 union, and retired from the Port Authority after 40 years of service.

William loved old school cars and was a talented mechanic who could work on anything with a motor. He was also a very skilled welder and had a vast collection of different types of tools and machinery to support his craft. He was an avid music lover, and would always get a reaction from the younger people around him, because of  his choice of musicians, Clarence Carter, and Theodis Ealey to name a few. He always sang “my baby”  over and over, and to this day no one knows the words to the entire song, the title of the song or who sang it. His laugh was infectious, and you couldn’t help but to laugh at his laughter.

He was very witty and had a great sense of humor, he always had a “ saying” for everything…. like, when asked if he’d ever used Viagra, his response was… “An old tire needs “fix a flat, doesn’t it?”  He was a charismatic “ladies man”, who loved to dance ,and  had a way with words. William was a good friend to many ,and  loved by everyone who ever met him. He was also a creature of habit and there are two things you knew he could never do without, a hat, and chocolate. He never went anywhere without either a Kango or a baseball cap, and didn’t get too far without coming across some type of chocolate either, whether it be a milkshake, candy bar, cookies, or a donut. He needed his daily dose of chocolate.

He was preceded in death by: Son: Malcolm Harris, Brothers: Coley (Shot) Harris, Charlie Harris, Thomas “LC” Harris, Sisters: Kate Katherine Harris, and Elsie Barksdale, and a very close friend, Mr. Buddy.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory: Sons: Avon Harris Sr, Antonio Harris Sr, Andre Harris Sr.(Sharron); Daughters: Natalie (Nat Nat) Brown and Kimberly (Boobie) Harris; Grandchildren: Andre Harris Jr, Tariq Harris, Tanisha Harris, Antonio Harris Jr, Antonae Harris, Avon Harris Jr, Bruce Bent, and Tai Scott; Brothers: Larry Harris and James Carrol Harris; Sisters: Viola Branch and Mary West-Montgomery; also his, Aunt Catherine Tann-Branch; a special friend, Lyn “Zelda” Harrison; his adopted daughters, Marlene Siler and Tatiana (Bones) Friday; God-daughter, Inez Webb and a host of nieces and nephews.