An Afternoon of Accolades for a Deserving Servant
By Sisters Annie B. Allen and Hattie Portis-Jones
On February 23, 2020, St. John AME Church Lay Organization of the Atlanta South District of the Atlanta-North Georgia Conference celebrated its Annual Lay Day Observance. It was led by the Rev. Charles R, Ramsey, Jr., and Sister Opal Hadley, the Lay President.
Members surprised Sister Virginia Henderson Harris by renaming their Lay Organization after her in honor of her wonderful service to all levels of the church. Sister Harris, a servant of distinction, uses her talents to train and motivate others to do their best in all of their endeavors.
Sister Harris joined the Lay Organization in the mid-1980s at Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit, Michigan. In late 1994, she relocated to Georgia and joined St. John AME Church in Fairburn. On December 12, 1995, she organized and became the first elected president of the organized laity. The following year in 1996, she was elected the first woman president of the Atlanta South District Lay Organization and was elected President Emeritus in 2004.
Sister Harris’s other outstanding elected leadership positions include being a member of the Atlanta-North Georgia Annual Conference Board of Trustees, serving as the elected secretary for the last 20 years, and the Atlanta-North Georgia Conference Lay President in 2006. She also served as an elected delegate to the 46th-50th Quadrennial Sessions of the General Conference and was elected to the AME Church General Board in 2004, 2008, and 2012.
In 2009, Sister Harris acquired the dual distinction of being elected the first Certified Registered Parliamentarian and the first woman parliamentarian of the Connectional Lay Organization. She is an active member of the National Association of Parliamentarians®; Georgia State Association of Parliamentarians, serving as the elected vice president in 2011; and the Atlanta Unit of Parliamentarians. She is included in the Commemorative Volume of The Encyclopedia of African Methodism, Bicentennial Edition, 1816-2016.
This notable day of recognition was uplifted by the profound sermon entitled, “Courageously Serving the Community,” proclaimed by guest preacher, the Rev. Edward J. Johnson, the pastor of Flat Rock AME Church in Fayetteville, Georgia, who also serves as the mayor of Fayetteville. Melodious music was rendered by his choir.
The Rt. Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, the presiding prelate of the Sixth Episcopal District and Sister Christy Davis Jackson, Esq., the Episcopal Supervisor, expressed congratulatory words in the Program Souvenir Booklet. The Rev. Dr. David B. Rhone Jr., the presiding elder of the Atlanta South District; Dr. Felecia G. Rhone, the Atlanta South District Consultant; Pastor Charles and Sister Robbie Ramsey; Brother Michael Brown, the president of the SED Lay Organization, Brother Jason Ferguson, the president of the ANGC Lay Organization, and Brother Paris O. Brown, the president of the ASD Lay Organization also provided words of recognition. A proclamation from the city of Fairburn and signed by Mayor Elizabeth Carr-Hurst was read by the Honorable Hattie Portis-Jones, City Council Member.
The service for this auspicious occasion was further enhanced by a video recording from Brother John Thomas, III, the 21st Editor of The Christian Recorder. He conveyed his praises for Sister Harris for her service and commitment to the many organizations in which she is involved. He thanked her and expressed regret that he could not be present for this awesome event. Tributes of reflection were given by her lifelong friend, Justice Robert Benham of the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Rev. Wilhelmenia Devone-Harvey, Esq., and Brother Daryl Mosby, the steward pro tem.
Sister Harris was graced with the presence of Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry (retired). Also bin attendance were her husband, Brother Ralph H. Harris; their twin daughters, Sisters Valerie Y. Harris and Veronica Y. Harris Woods; her son-in-law, Dr. Jonathan Woods; his mother, Sister Mollie Woods; her nephew, Brother Robert III (Sister Katrina Henderson); their children, Xavier, Emory, and Trinity; as well as her in-laws, Brother Willard (Sister Gwyneth) Harris of Simi Valley, California. Her lifelong friends from Cartersville, Georgia, Justice Robert (Sister Nell) Benham; Sister Priscilla Davis, Sister Kathleen Mitchell, Sister Freeda Williams, and Sister Gwendolyn Weaver, and Brother Percy (Sister Billie) Carter from Detroit, Michigan; supporters; and a host of attendees from the South, North, East, and West Districts of the ANGC Lay Organization.
Sister Jacqueline R. Allen coordinated the day of admiration and accolades. We give all glory to God.
Sister Annie B. Allen is the Atlanta South District Director of Lay Activities and Sister Hattie Portis-Jones is a city councilwoman for Fairburn, Georgia.
