Thomas Wayne Harris was born on November 6, 1939, at the National Homeopathic Hospital in Washington, DC. On April 10, 2024, at the age of 84. Tommy left us to be in the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is joined in death by his wife, Betty, and preceded in death by his parents, Everett Harris and Grace Baker; his sister, Vivian Harris; and brother, Bill. He is survived by his brother, Joe Harris, and a multitude of nephews and nieces.
Tommy learned to swim at the age of five and just loved the water, often swimming for hours each day at the nearby YMCA. It was this love of water that led him to join the U.S. Navy. After faithfully serving his country, Tommy returned to marry the love of his life, Betty Harris, on December 26, 1964. Tommy and Betty were married for 59 wonderful years.
As many know, Tommy had a rare eye condition that caused him to see double, but as all can attest, he never let that get in his way. After high school, Tom went on to get his art degree from Florida State University, becoming a lifelong avid Seminole fan in the process. As an artist, Tom used anything and everything you could imagine to create - from toilet paper rolls, toothpicks, watercolors, pencil sketches, wood working, macramé and origami figures.
After college, Tommy took a job as an art teacher in North Carolina and that is where he met a young art student, Dusty, that would change Tom’s life. Suffering from Muscular Dystrophy, Dusty would only live for months after they met and yet the family said that those moments Dusty had in Tom’s art class were the best of his life. Tom was always moved and inspired by the impact that art could have on a child’s life and so even years later when he was offered a senior position with Florida State University to oversee their entire art program, he declined so that he could continue to make a difference in the lives of others by teaching art first-hand. Tom knew talent when he saw it and would always focus on reiterating the positive aspects of a student’s ability. That positive feedback teaching philosophy helped Tom mold and connect with countless students over his teaching years, including world-renowned artist, Dean Mitchell, who often comments publicly when asked about the impact that Tom had on his art career.
Although Tom had no children by birth of his own, he was a “Dad” to thousands of kids over the years. His ability to connect to people of all types and make a difference in their lives was what he lived for! We miss you and know that we will see you on the day!
Tommy and Betty Harris will be memorialized together at a graveside service at 9:00 AM Saturday, June 1, 2024. The service will be held at Rocky Creek Baptist Church, 5458 Rocky Creek Rd, Marianna, FL, with
James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing. Flowers accepted or donations in his honor may be made to the Gadsden Arts Center Museum in Quincy, Florida or the LeMoyne Arts Center in Tallahassee, Florida.
To order memorial trees in memory of Thomas Wayne Harris, please visit our tree store.
Tommy learned to swim at the age of five and just loved the water, often swimming for hours each day at the nearby YMCA. It was this love of water that led him to join the U.S. Navy. After faithfully serving his country, Tommy returned to marry the love of his life, Betty Harris, on December 26, 1964. Tommy and Betty were married for 59 wonderful years.
As many know, Tommy had a rare eye condition that caused him to see double, but as all can attest, he never let that get in his way. After high school, Tom went on to get his art degree from Florida State University, becoming a lifelong avid Seminole fan in the process. As an artist, Tom used anything and everything you could imagine to create - from toilet paper rolls, toothpicks, watercolors, pencil sketches, wood working, macramé and origami figures.
After college, Tommy took a job as an art teacher in North Carolina and that is where he met a young art student, Dusty, that would change Tom’s life. Suffering from Muscular Dystrophy, Dusty would only live for months after they met and yet the family said that those moments Dusty had in Tom’s art class were the best of his life. Tom was always moved and inspired by the impact that art could have on a child’s life and so even years later when he was offered a senior position with Florida State University to oversee their entire art program, he declined so that he could continue to make a difference in the lives of others by teaching art first-hand. Tom knew talent when he saw it and would always focus on reiterating the positive aspects of a student’s ability. That positive feedback teaching philosophy helped Tom mold and connect with countless students over his teaching years, including world-renowned artist, Dean Mitchell, who often comments publicly when asked about the impact that Tom had on his art career.
Although Tom had no children by birth of his own, he was a “Dad” to thousands of kids over the years. His ability to connect to people of all types and make a difference in their lives was what he lived for! We miss you and know that we will see you on the day!
Tommy and Betty Harris will be memorialized together at a graveside service at 9:00 AM Saturday, June 1, 2024. The service will be held at Rocky Creek Baptist Church, 5458 Rocky Creek Rd, Marianna, FL, with
James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing. Flowers accepted or donations in his honor may be made to the Gadsden Arts Center Museum in Quincy, Florida or the LeMoyne Arts Center in Tallahassee, Florida.
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