Mary Helena Harris affectionately known as Helena,
daughter of the late Minnie Belton and Richard Shropshire.
Helena was born on July 3, 1929 in Kershaw, South Carolina.
She passed away peacefully at her home on January 2, 2018.

Her life in South Carolina was full and interesting due to her
being surrounded by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
She began her education in a tiny rural school built by parents
of school age children in Kershaw County and continued to
Kershaw High School where she graduated in 1947 after the
family moved to the town of Kershaw Proper. The family
followed her father to Baltimore, Maryland where he worked
in a defense plant during World War II. Her mother died
suddenly in 1947 after which she assumed the role of caregiver
to her sisters.

Helena was married to the late John McGee and from this
union, Val Lenell McGee was born. In 1962 she married her
late husband Charles S. Harris Sr. and in 1963 they became the
parents of Charles Summier Harris, Jr.

She was predeceased by three sisters, Evelyn Armicha Smith,
Ida Bell Boney and Saprinia Martin.

Her desire was always to become a nurse. She completed the
nursing course 1958 which was then Baltimore City Hospital
Schools of Practical Nursing. Her entire work history after-
wards was in the area of patient care much of which was done
at Johns Hopkins Hospitals Wilma ·Eye Clinic and the Univer-
sity of Maryland Hospitals Methadone Maintenance Clinic
from which she retired in 1995.

Helena started her Christian journey at the Oak Ridge Baptist
Church in Kershaw where she was baptized. She was a devot-
ed long-standing member of Patterson Asbury A.M.E. Zion
Church for over 60 years, where she served as a Deaconess,

Trustee and her passion was service as an Usher and presi-
dent of the Usher Board. She has been a dedicated member
of the Intemdonimational Church Ushers' Association since
1960. She willingly served in many offices which include
treasurer as well as in the finance department at the state
and local levels. She attended and participated in meetings,
conferences and anniversary programs.

Helena was known for making corsages for various organi-
zations and auxiliaries. Whenever anyone needed flowers
for their special day or event she could put them together
inexpensively. She was also known as the coupon queen.
She could always feed people from a pantry or the trunk of
her car because she did extreme couponing before it became
popular.

She leaves to cherish her memory: two sons, Val Lenell
McGee (Valerie deceased) and Charles Summier Harris, Ir.
(Lisa); two sisters Clara Louise Sydnor and Dr. Freeda E.
Thompson; seven grandchildren, Audrey, Nirobia (Brian),
Ebony, Val Ir., Latrice and Iamilah; nine great-grandchil-
dren, 1 great great grandchild, and numerous nieces, neph-
ews, god children, family and friends.

Viewing Joseph H. Brown Jr. Funeral Home Tuesday, January 09, 2018 04:00 PM - 08:00 PM Email Details 2140 N. Fulton Ave
Baltimore, Maryland 21217 Directions Funeral Service Patterson Asbury AME Zion Wednesday, January 10, 2018 10:00 AM Email Details 2211 Division Street
Baltimore, MD 21217 Funeral Service will begin @ 10:30AM Directions Private Service Email Details