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The Messenger 06.13.13
Many area residents are truly Angels on Earth, selflessly giving of their time and talents to help others in the community. The Messenger is honoring those people in a special series of articles.
By HOPE MONTGOMERY
Messenger Intern
Susan Harris does not consider herself someone who does any more than anyone else. If Mrs. Harris’ belief is true, then Obion County is truly an exceptional place filled with active and positively-involved citizens.
Mrs. Harris is the wife of Union City Walmart Supercenter manager David Harris, to whom she has been married for 24 years, and the mother of UT Martin finance major Bradley Harris.
Her service in the community goes way back. She was part of the Lake Road School Parent Teacher Organization and was room mother chairman for the nine years her son attended the elementary school. In this position, Mrs. Harris used her passion for baking and crafts to bring smiles to students and teachers around the school. She partnered with teachers to make their jobs a little easier and let them know that they were appreciated.
For the past six years she has served on the Obion County Public Library’s board of trustees, helping other board members make decisions and sponsor events.
Through her church, First United Methodist Church in Union City, Mrs. Harris works with others such as members of the New Covenant Sunday School Class to provide meals for people in the community who have suffered death in the family, have been dealing with sickness or have been facing general hard times.
The class also makes an annual bicycle donation to Reelfoot Rural Ministries for children in need.
She and her Sunday school class also sponsor college students in need by providing clothes, techology, books and school supplies and money when the students need it.
Within her church, she is also a part of United Methodist Women. She has served as the vice president of this organization and has been actively involved in many service projects. At Christmas. members make bags to take to shut- ins and often help fund youth events in the church. Just this May the group helped put on a luncheon to fundraise for the youth mission trip.
On top of that she helps with the church’s Wednesday night food delivery for church members who can no longer make it to the church. Three days a month she volunteers in the church office with secretarial work such as answering phone calls, mailing envelopes and helping print the church bulletin.
Outside of her church involvement, Mrs. Harris is very active in community services. She is a member of the Athenian Review Club and is an Obion County Fair volunteer. In the past she has walked on the Walmart Hometown Walk of Hope team and has been a member of Obion County Junior Auxilary.
Beyond sharing her gifts through cooking and crafting, she also shares her love for photography with the community. For more than four years she has been the photographer at the Salvation Army Christmas party. There she takes pictures of the children sitting on Santa’s lap and going through their wishlists. “I really enjoy that one because all the kids are so excited to have their pictures taken,” says Mrs. Harris as she remembers the event.
OutsideIN, a non-profit organization in Troy, also benefitted from Mrs. Harris’ photography when she captured some of OutsideIN’s models showing off some of the store’s unique clothing.
Mrs. Harris also spends time helping elderly friends and neighbors who need assistance.
She regularly cooks for her neighbor Emily Jackson, as well as helping her get groceries and make her doctors’ appointments. Mrs. Harris also helps and visits Myrtle Harton from her church in a similar fashion.
Thankfully, there are people in our community like Mrs. Harris who believe in the importance of using their gifts and serving the community. In Mrs. Harris’s words, “It’s easier if we all work together because together we’ll get it all done. If we want a good community, we all have to do our part because if we don’t, who will?”
To submit someone for consideration, send the person’s name, contact information and the things they do to help Obion County, along with the submitter’s contact information and why they think this person should be recognized as an “Angel on Earth.” Information must be submitted in writing by emailing dryder@ucmessenger.com or by mailing to Donna Ryder, The Messenger, P.O. Box 430, Union City, TN 38281.
Editor’s note: Hope Montgomery is a sophomore at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. She is the daughter of Bob and Amy Montgomery of Union City.
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