DATE: Saturday, October 25, 1997            TAG: 9710250250

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   31 lines

CLARENCE E. HARRIS SR.

Clarence E. ``Deacon'' Harris Sr. passed away at his son's home in Virginia Beach Friday morning, Oct. 24, 1997.

Mr. Harris, who was a quiet man and always a gentleman, was born on a farm Aug. 16, 1905, in Albemarle County, Va., to Henry Hamilton and Sallie Thomas Harris. He had lived in this area for over 70 years and worked for Ford Motor Co. in the cushion department during the late 1920s to World War II, at which time he worked at Norfolk Naval Station as an ordnanceman. Mr. Harris started his own business in 1946, the C.E. Harris & Sons Upholstery, from which he retired in 1985.

Mr. Harris was a member of London Bridge Baptist Church, the John Stone Bible Class and the Echos of London Bridge Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Gimbert Harris, and is survived by four children, C.E. Harris Jr. of Virginia Beach, Juanita Warren of Waynesboro, Tenn., Malcolm Harris of Scottsville, Va., and Cynthia Gregory of Virginia Beach. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Thelma Mayo of Schuyler, Va.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday in London Bridge Baptist Church, 2460 Potters Road, Virginia Beach, by the Rev. Tommy J. Taylor. The family will receive friends from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday in Maestas Funeral Home, Baltic Ave. Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gideons International, Virginia Beach East Camp, P.O. Box 8291, Virginia Beach, Va. 23450. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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