Albert Harris, Jr. - Obit

HARRIS, Albert Lee, Jr., 62, a resident of Montgomery, AL departed this life on May 31, 2008. Funeral services will be Friday, June 6, 2008 at 12 noon from Community Congregational United Church Christ, 3481 South Court Street, Montgomery, AL with Rev. Terry McCreay, officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Serenity Gardens with Ross-Clayton Funeral Home, Inc., directing. Albert Harris was a Master Gardener and was devoted to serving those in need through his employment with the Alabama Coalition Against Hunger and organizing the Kershaw Community Garden in West Fairview Avenue. He was preceded in death by a sister, Helen Lee Harris. He leaves to cherish his memories a devoted wife of 34 years, Sophia Bracy Harris; two children, Alden and Kimiya Harris, both of Montgomery, AL; the little ''apple of his eye,'' his granddaughter, Timiya (Momma); a devoted sister, Delores H. Smith-Mayes (Walter); a loving brother, Lawrence Harris (Tommie Jean), Eufaula, AL; an adopted brother, Joe Nathan Young, Montgomery, AL; two aunts, Murlene Harris and Janie Harris, Montgomery, AL; sisters-in-law, Debra Bracy, Georgia Robinson (David), Katherine Moore (Lorenza); brothers-in-law, Harvey Fleming (Helen), Edwin Bracy (Gloria), John Bracy (Juanita), Charles Bracy (Yolanda); five special nieces and nephews, Derrick Smith, LeQuita Mayes, Katrina McNeal, Dishun Harris, Taras Harris; thirty-nine nieces and nephews; a host of cousins and friends. A special thanks to his medical doctors and the staff of DaVita East Dialysis. Visitation will be Thursday, June 5, 2008 from 6-7 p.m. at Ross-Clayton Funeral Home. The body will lie in state at the church one hour prior to services. Donations may be made to FOCAL in memory of Albert L. Harris, P.O. Box 214, Montgomery, AL 36101.


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Albert Harris just could not stand the idea of anyone going hungry.

So he dedicated his life to preventing it.

The state coordinator of the Alabama Coalition Against Hunger, Harris started the community garden project on West Fairview Avenue, where a field of watermelons, tomatoes and other food was cultivated to feed the hungry.

It will be a large part of his legacy.

Harris, 62, died late last month after suffering a heart attack.

"He was a symbol of what a man in the community could do," said Evan Milligan, community organizer with the Federation of Child Care Centers of Alabama (FOCAL). "Not everyone takes the time to consider those that are hungry, but he did."

Harris started the community garden as an agriculture experiment to see if using a plastic material could help produce more collard greens. The material helped keep the soil warm longer and led to better seed germination, which caused collard greens to sprout in six to eight weeks instead of the usual eight to 10.

Harris started a similar garden in Wetumpka, with squash, cabbage, rutabaga, turnip and mustard greens.

During the 2007 fall season, the garden on Fairview produced 24 rows of collard greens, which were distributed to individuals and food charities across the city.

Milligan, who assisted with the community garden project, said Harris was a symbol of agriculture and became skilled in the area despite not growing up on a farm. He also said Harris was determined to use his talent to help anyone he could -- especially youths.

"He loved young people and was always excited to see them enjoying the food he grew," Milligan said.

Deborah Thomas, the program coordinator for FOCAL, agreed.

"It was his passion to feed young children," she said. "It always hurt his heart to think about them going hungry."

Milligan said those at FOCAL and others who worked with Harris will continue to carry on his work.

Donations in memory of Albert Harris can be sent to FOCAL at P.O. Box 214, Montgomery, AL 36101.