Eloise Harris Harrison

Portsmouth-Eloise Harris Harrison, 86, of the 4000 block of Breakwater Drive, went home to be with the Lord, January 3, 2009. She was born on December 26, 1922 to the late Nancy and James Harris of Portsmouth. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, George Harrison Jr., and from that union produced eight children, George Harrison III, Brenda E. Elliott, Gregory E. Harrison, Steve T. Harrison, Valerie V. Taylor, Valda Harrison, Michael A. Harrison, and Shelley J. Jackson. She attended Portsmouth Public Schools and graduated from I.C. Norcom High School in the LPN Nursing program. She also received an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education at Tidewater Community College in June 1983. Most of her career was spent working at Portsmouth General Hospital where she retired after 24 years. Eloise had a strong desire to serve and care for others and mastered the art of motherhood and homemaking. She took great pride in decorating her home and was an avid gardener. She had great love for children and cared for many of her grandchildren while the parents worked. She was extremely generous to family, friends, and acquaintances and had many, many friends. She was full of life with never ending energy with the countenance of a much younger person, even into her eighties. She was very active socially and loved to dance, learning line dances well into her eighties. Eloise was an active member of New Creation Community Church in Portsmouth for several years under the leadership of Pastor Timothy Brassell, and was formerly a member of St. Mark Baptist Church where she served in the Choir, as an Usher, and in the Nurse’s Unit. She had a strong sense of community service and served as Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary (DAVA) Unit #27 in Portsmouth for several terms and also served as Adjutant, Chaplain, and Senior Executive Committee Woman. She received numerous awards and certificates on the local and state level for her service to the DAVA, and received an Honorable Mention for Outstanding Auxiliary Member in 2006 on the national level. She was a faithful volunteer to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hampton. She volunteered for the Meals on Wheels program and Food Bank, and provided gifts to several residential homes for the elderly. She was a member of the Red Hatter Sassy Snappers for several years and enjoyed participating in the organization’s activities. Our Beloved lived a long and wonderful life to the fullest and was a blessing to her family and friends. Praise God who loved her most. She is survived by two daughters, Valerie (Larry) and Shelley (Lloyd), and three sons, Gregory, Steve and Michael (Colette); a brother, James Harris, and a niece, Ms. Nancy Hunter; 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and other relatives, and many devoted friends. Viewing will be held at J. T. Fisher Funeral Services, 1080 N. George Washington Hwy., Chesapeake on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 from 2 pm until 7 pm. A life celebration service will be held at Grove Baptist Church, 5910 West Norfolk Road, Portsmouth on Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 11 am with Dr. Melvin O. Marriner presiding. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Final care arrangements have been entrusted to J.T. Fisher Funeral Services.

Eloise Harris Harrison

December 26, 1922 - January 3, 2009