Joann Marva Harris' Obituary
Joann Marva Harris, born Marva Joan Gray, passed away in her Fremont, CA home on July 3rd, 2021, after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was born in Venice, IL, to Alice Pinkston and Joseph Benny Gray on September 24, 1941. She was the 5th of seven children born to Alice Pinkston; Hershel Clark (deceased), John Clark (deceased), Charlotte Reynolds (deceased), Joseph Gray (deceased), Charles Gray (deceased) and Marsha Beale (Marsha Gray). She also leaves behind three additional siblings born to Joseph Gray; Catheree Gray, Mattie Lou Lee & Joann Gray.
Joann accepted Christ as her Personal Lord and Savior at the age of 15 in Forrest City, Arkansas and rededicated her life to Him in 2020. Four of her favorite songs were; “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” by Mahalia Jackson, “I think God is Tryin’ to Tell You Somethin’” from the movie, The Color Purple, “In the Middle” by Isaac Carree & “Talk to God” by Anthony AK King. She enjoyed playing dominoes & boardgames, especially Mancala, with her children & grandchildren. Three of her favorite tv shows were, Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons & Anne of Green Gables. She could watch them over & over for hours & we liked watching them with her. Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday & she looked forward to planning & spending it with family. The best desserts she ever made were her homemade peach cobblers made with fresh peaches picked from her backyard tree. While living in Memphis, Tenn., she owned a homebased candy store where some of the inventory would magically disappear & her children had no explanation except satisfied tastebuds. Joann moved to the S.F. Bay Area in 1978. She volunteered at the Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto, CA helping families in need. The organization was so impressed with her work that they made her an official employee. Her level of dedication and people-loving spirit eventually drove her to opening a home daycare in Stockton, CA with her daughter, Khadijah. She was thought of as everyone’s mother and selflessly took on the responsibility of raising other children. One of her greatest accomplishments was being a Single Parent to her six children which she leaves behind; Deborah Ann Harris, Michelle Harris-Buckner, Thomas Edward Harris, Patricia Denise Harris-Bowman, Doris Marie Harris (Khadijah Abdulhaqq), Sherry Lynette Harris and an adopted daughter, Wendy Roundtree. She also leaves 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild, as well as other relatives, friends, and well-wishers.
In Lieu of Flowers & Cards the family would greatly appreciate a donation, to help with expenses, via the GoFundMe page. See Link Below:
https://gofund.me/a32b5e71
THE FUNERAL WILL BE LIVESTREAMED VIA ZOOM.
Faith Fellowship is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Joann Harris Funeral Service - July 28th 2021
Time: Jul 28, 2021 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81850331919?pwd=TnA3c2dhOUthTnlac2V6bEhxcWdMQT09
Meeting ID: 818 5033 1919
Passcode: 577577
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,81850331919#,,,,*577577# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,81850331919#,,,,*577577# US (Houston)
Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 818 5033 1919
Passcode: 577577
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kc0zb5WkPd
What’s your fondest memory of Joann?
What’s a lesson you learned from Joann?
Share a story where Joann's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Joann you’ll never forget.
How did Joann make you smile?
