Ralph Harris

Ralph Copeland Harris, 84, died on March 29, 2007, at his home following a struggle with cancer. He was born to Fannie Copeland Harris and Guy Phillips Harris on December 22, 1922, in Candor, N.C. He attended Wake Forest College and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from NC State. After his graduation in 1949, he worked for the Federal Crop Insurance program of the Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC. In 1954, he moved to Rockingham and established a Southern Life Insurance Agency. In 1965, he began teaching adult education classes at Richmond Community College and four years later assumed the position of Dean of Evening Programs. Upon his retirement in 1988, he was honored as RCC’s first Dean Emeritus. Mr. Harris was an active community volunteer throughout his life. He was instrumental in bringing youth baseball to Richmond County and was Little League Commissioner for more than ten years. After retirement, he was a volunteer with the Richmond County Juvenile Court Guardian ad Litem program. He donated blood to the Red Cross at every opportunity, giving more than twenty-three gallons over a six decade span. He was a member of the Lions Club and the Civitan Club. He and his wife also were active members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Mr. Harris loved people and he loved teaching. He often said his greatest satisfaction was having an influence on the lives of his students. He was an avid sports fan and especially enjoyed football and basketball. He was a member of First United Methodist Church , where he taught Sunday School for many years, served on the Administrative Board, and participated in the Prison Ministry. He is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Frances O’Brien Harris; son, Ralph C. Harris, Jr. of Charlotte ; daughters, Jane H. Maddux of Broad Run, VA and Ruth H. Burgin of Rockingham; five grandsons: Keith Harris of Davidson, Scott Miller of Mundelein, IL, Doug Harris of Nashville, TN, Brad Miller of Charlottesville, VA and Harris Burgin of Rockingham; and five great grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother, Max Harris of Fuquay-Varina; sister, Ruth Gruber of Raleigh ; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be conducted 11:00 am Monday, April 2, at First United Methodist Church in Rockingham with Rev. Keith Nanney and Rev. Leonard Mayo officiating. Committal services will follow at Eastside Cemetery . The family will receive friends at Carter Funeral Home Sunday evening from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Richmond County Hospice, 1119 US Hwy 1 N, Rockingham, NC 28379 or First United Methodist Church, 410 E. Washington Street, Rockingham, NC 28379. Online condolences may be sent to www.carterfuneral.net.