EMILY FRANCES SMITH HARRIS
Emily Frances Smith Harris, 72, of Starkville, died April 13, 2024, in Starkville, surrounded by her loving family and the music of “I Can Only Imagine.”
Emily was born in 1951 to Ernest B. Smith and Van Rose Abernethy Smith. Growing up in a military family, she traveled and lived all over the United States and two countries. The family returned to West Point, Mississippi, where Emily met and married her high school sweetheart, William Henry Harris, Jr. For 52 years, Billy and Emily were a beautiful team - truly for better and for worse, in sickness and in health - separated only by Billy's death in 2022.
A talented dancer, Emily enjoyed being a majorette with the West Point High School Marching Band. Emily won the talent show at Wood Jr. College, having choreographed her own routine. Emily threw her full energy into every job she tackled, including Jaycette projects, running a dance studio, and newspaper bookkeeping alongside her husband at the Starkville Daily News. She was a founding member of Riverside Chapel Baptist Church, where she shouldered the responsibilities of church secretary, bookkeeper, kitchen wrangler and, when needed, interior painter.
Although a major stroke took Emily's ability to speak more than a decade ago, Billy had become quite a mindreader. For others, her eye-rolls and side-eye glances spoke volumes. And so did her laughs.
Emily is survived by a son, William Henry (Hank) Harris, III, and daughter-inlaw, Amy Rhodes Harris, of Starkville; grandsons William Henry Harris, IV, of Houston, Texas, and Brennan Lee Harris of Starkville; granddaughter, Jessica Weaver Henley (Deangelo) of Starkville; and three great-grandsons, Makel, Jashaun and Ethan Henley.
She is also survived by a sister, Cindy Smith Wall ( Jim) of Atlanta, and a brother, Sam Smith (Julie) of Fort Payne, Ala.; three sisters-in-law, Carol Lummus (Robert) of West Point, Marie Harris Lambeth of Gulfport, and Sue Smith of Tupelo; and a brother-in-law, Edgar Harris, of West Point.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Emily was preceded in death by a brother, Ernest “Ernie” Smith.
What a celebration there must have been in heaven when Emily, at last able to sing again, was welcomed by the God she loved and was reunited with her beloved Billy. We can only imagine.
Visitation for Emily will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Riverside Chapel Baptist Church in West Point. A Celebration of Life will follow at 3 p.m. with Rev. Jim Sallee officiating and Rev. Terry Partin assisting. Calvert Funeral Home in West Point is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Riverside Chapel Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 526, West Point, MS 39773.