Obituary of Shirley Ann Harris-Avant

Mrs. Shirley Ann Harris-Avant, daughter of the late Charles Harris Sr. and Dorothy Elizabeth Harris, she was born December 5, 1948 in South Hampton County, Virginia.

She was educated in the South Hampton County schools. She completed her GED in Boston Massachusetts.

She worked various jobs thru out her life.  She spent most of her life as a care giver to her late husband, three children and nephew.  She was always supportive and always willing to help family and friends whenever needed.  She loved cooking for the family and being around her grandchildren. 

She was not an active member of a church at the time of her passing, but her faith in Jesus Christ was strong and always known.

She was united in holy matrimony to the late Leon (Bo) Avant on June 23, 1983. They loved each other unconditionally and spent 30 years together before his passing on November 28, 2003.

She is survived by her three children: Marvin (Teresa) Harris Sr. of Panama City Beach FL, Tonya (Ricky) Harris-Walker and Shannon Harris both of Boston, MA; six grandchildren: Marvin Harris Jr., Amanda Harris, Dominique Jackson, Mariah Harris, Jasmine Jackson, Lakia Snowden; and Special Nephew Milton Harris Jr.; two great grandchildren: Honor Cohren-Harris and Honiyah Cohren Harris.

Four sisters- Catherine Harris, Linda (Thomas Guess) Harris all of Boston, MA, Ora Mae (late James) Hawks, Barbara Jean (late Alvin) Ricks, both of Suffolk, VA. Four brothers – Charles (Frances) Harris Jr., Melvin (late Joyce) Harris, both of Norfolk, VA, Raymond Harris of Utica, NY and Milton Harris of Boston, MA. Two sister-in-law’s- Gladys (James) Finney, Aliene Avant. Four brother-in-law’s- Robert Lee (Dorothy) Avant Jr., of Marion, SC, Leroy (Docia) Avant, Rufus (Joanne) Avant, David (Gail Galloway) Avant all of Boston MA.  A host of loving nieces and nephews.

She was proceeded in death by two sister-in-law’s- the late Odessa (Jimmy) Boyd and Georgia (Joseph) Singletary; four brother-in-law’s- Roosevelt “Cowboy” (Nellie “Dee” Nesby) Avant, Lonnie (Jacquelyn) Avant, Arthur Lee Avant and Jimmy Avant.