Mr. Mitchell Luther Harris

Mitchell Luther Harris was born in Prattville, Alabama on April 5, 1926 to Rev. Mitchell Luther Harris and Annie D. Jacobs Harris. He attended high school in Scottsboro, where his father had retired. Mr. Harris began college at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, but his studies were interrupted while he was in the Second Marine Division. He went to Okinawa during the last weeks of World War II, then served as a military policeman in the peacekeeping force in Peking, China for almost two years. After graduating from Washington & Lee with a degree in Commerce, Mr. Harris established the first service wholesale business in Miami, Florida which served South Florida for over 20 years. He later built the first mini-warehouse in Miami, where he worked until his retirement in 1999 to Roanoke, Virginia near his wife's family. During retirement, he became an avid investor. He was a longtime member of Civitan in Miami and Roanoke, a fervent seller of Claxton fruitcakes to raise money for Civitan's community service work. He was a longtime board member of Racetrack Chaplaincy of America, which ministers to people working on the backside of horse racing tracks. A member of University Baptist Church in Coral Gables, Florida for about 50 years, Mr. Harris served as a deacon, children's Sunday School teacher, finance committee member, and volunteer with English as a Second Language classes. Mr. Harris was preceded in death by his three brothers Roderick, John Clinton, and Dr. Elmer, one sister Dr. Ruth Harris Peet, and his older daughter Jane Fletcher Harris Sczechowski. He is survived by his wife of 56 years Betty, daughter Ruth Harris, both of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren Garrett Sczechowski of Seattle, Washington and Eve Sczechowski, currently studying in Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Harris was also loved by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He loved his family, travel, and Crimson Tide football. He snow skied from age 50 to about 65. Mr. Harris died August 26, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Palm Beach Atlantic University, a Christian university in South Florida for which Mr. Harris raised funds after his retirement. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 5, 2017 from 2-3 p.m. at Scottsboro Funeral Home, with a family-led service there at 3 p.m. and interment in Cedar Hill Cemetery to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Mitchell Harris Scholarship c/o Palm Beach Atlantic University Development Office 901 South Flagler Drive West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Gifts may also be made on line at www.pba.edu/give. Arrangements Entrusted to Scottsboro Funeral Home.

Mr. Mitchell Luther Harris

April 5, 1926 - August 26, 2017