Obituaries
On February 26th 1953, the late Franklin Harris, Sr. and the late Chrystal Marie Lewis Harris welcomed their third child, Annette Harris. Annette joined older brothers Franklin, Jr. and Donald, who were the consummate big brothers from her first breath to her last. Bolstered by the love of her family, Annette lived life to the fullest. She was adventurous, audacious, determined, compassionate, and generous. In the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, Annette was welcomed into eternal rest with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and reunion with her predeceased parents, nephew Seth, and other loved ones.
Set against the backdrop of the burgeoning civil rights movement, Annette’s childhood in Memphis is a testament to the power of faith and resilient spirit of the black community that molded her. She often regaled her children with tales of adventures that she and her cousin Joanne would have as they explored the city. Growing up in the Dixie Homes Housing Projects, some of Annette’s favorite childhood activities included performing self-taught gymnastics feats down on Mosley Street and on occasion even skipping school to go to sit in courtrooms to watch attorney Melvin Belli argue cases. Annette’s intellectual curiosity and spirit for adventure were honed during these early years. As a teenager, Annette was engaged in several student activities at Northside High School; she was named Most Likely to Succeed in the Class of 1971. Despite being accepted into Smith College in Massachusetts, Annette elected to stay close to her family and attended then-named Memphis State University.
And she succeeded indeed. After pausing her education to raise a family, Annette never relinquished her dream of earning a degree. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Master’s of Science in Taxation at University of Memphis while balancing a full-time job, parenting four small children and fighting to overcome stage 3 colon cancer. Annette was a constant example of strength, faith and perseverance.
Following her studies, Annette joined the elite ranks of less than 10% of candidates nationally to pass the Certified Public Accountant’s examination on her first attempt (in the original two-day four-part format). She began her career as a field auditor for the Internal Revenue Service; from there Annette’s career included public accounting, corporate taxation for several fortune 500 companies, and serving as an adjunct Accounting professor. In 2016, Annette retired as an International and Federal Tax Manager at the renowned, global spice manufacturer, McCormick & Company. After enjoying several years of retirement, Annette launched a second act to her career as a sole practitioner. Through word of mouth, Annette’s firm rapidly grew to the point that she needed expanded office space to accommodate her thriving CPA practice.
Annette lived a life of faith, purpose and adventure. Having professed faith in Christ at a young age, Annette strived to live out her belief in the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. For Annette, motherhood and mentorship were divine callings for her life. Even before having children of her own, Annette was known to gather up her younger sisters, nieces, and nephews in her convertible Volkswagen Beetle for a day of fun and adventure. When she became a mother, she spared no expense to ensure her children received high quality education, were active in their faith community, and engaged in the arts. Annette loved to travel and, as the years and life sent her children to different locations across the country, she was frequently on flights and road trips for visits to see them or vacation with them. Annette was not just a mother to the children she birthed; she was a mother to all. She was generous with her love, time, and resources, and passionate about positively impacting the lives of everyone she encountered. Annette was a staunch advocate of the accounting profession, and she mentored and encouraged many young people to pursue careers in accounting. She was an active member at Christ Community Church, where she served in a number of capacities. A faithful believer in the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, Annette volunteered as a missionary internationally (Uganda), nationally, and locally to share the love of Christ and spread the Gospel.
Annette’s life is a beautiful tapestry of joy, resilience, and determination. While the void she leaves in our lives will never be filled, we are comforted by the memories that will forever fill our hearts. Annette is survived by her siblings: Franklin Harris Jr (Helen), Donald Harris, Frankie Harris, Patrice Harris-Scott, Angela Harris, James Stokes and Robert Johnson; her four children, Christopher (Jennifer), Tiffany (Tommy), Tara, and Ashley who will forever cherish her unconditional love; her grandchildren: Christopher, Jayden, Emily, and Ava; her god-daughters, Marronda and Breanna; a host of nieces and nephews; and scores of family, friends, and colleagues.
To honor her memory and continue her legacy, Annette’s children have established “The Annette Harris Memorial Scholarship Fund” at Christ Community Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to support the youth outreach work of the church.
Serenity Funeral Home, Tel. (901)379-0861.
Previous Events
Visitation
5
May
1626 Sycamore View Road
Memphis, TN 38134
Visitation
6
May
735 Ridge Lake Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38120
Service
6
May
735 Ridge Lake Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38120
Cemetery Details
Location
5668 Poplar Ave.
Memphis, TN 38119
