Mrs. Norma I. (Turner) Harris Great

A Walk Through Norma’s Life
“God gently closed those loving eyes and whispered, “Come with me my child.”

After a very long illness, Mrs. Norma Turner Harris Great passed away peacefully on October 22, 2021, at Augusta University Health Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, with her daughter, Mrs. Beryl H. Vaughns; her daughter-in-law, Ms. Cheryl Diane Sneed; a close family friend, Chaplain Brennan Francois; and her son, Mr. Keith R. Harris, at her bedside.  

Mrs. Great was born in Early County, Georgia, on August 10, 1933.  She was the third of three siblings born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Bishop Henry and Lucinda Powell Turner.  Mr. Earnest Turner, one of the three siblings born to this union, preceded her in death.

She became a member of the Bethlehem African Methodist Episcopal Church when she was only eleven years old. Her church responsibilities and affiliations included the following: Sunday School Teacher; Missionary President; Advisor of the Young People and Children’s Division (YPD) Department; Treasurer of the Lay Organization; Financial Secretary of the Southwest Georgia Conference; Pastor’s Aide; and Church Financial Secretary. Additionally, she enthusiastically enjoyed preparing meals in her church’s kitchen for others, making members and guests feel welcomed and appreciated.  Routinely, she volunteered her time to keep her church as clean as possible.  

Her formal education was in the Early County School System, graduating from Washington High School in 1950.  After graduating from high school, Mrs. Great attended Fort Valley State University, located in Fort Valley, Georgia.  Subsequently, she attended and completed the beautician’s course at Washington Beauty School, located in Albany, Georgia. As a licensed beautician, her very talented hairdressing abilities served ladies in her local community and throughout Early and Miller counties.  She also worked in the Early County School System as a substitute teacher from 1967 until she retired in the 1990s.  Additionally, she worked for a few years with troubled young people at the Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Blakely, Georgia, making a positive and lasting difference in their lives. 

On December 30, 1956, she married the late Mr. Charles Reefus Harris.  To this union, five children were born.  After Mr. Harris’ untimely death in a tragic multi-vehicle accident on April 29, 1968, she focused her efforts on positively impacting the lives of not only her children, but the lives of many other children in the community.  On June 9, 1984, she married Pastor Walter L. Great. Sadly, their marriage, of almost 10 years, ended in divorce on May 17, 1994.

Mourning her passing, she leaves behind her five children: Mr. Charles Anthony Harris, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Electrician, (Mrs. Alvetta F. Harris) in Blakely, Georgia; Mrs. Beryl Michelle Harris Vaughns, Registered Nurse, (Dr. Christopher F. Vaughns Sr, deceased) in Atlanta, Georgia; Colonel Keith Ronaldo Harris, U.S. Army, Retired, (Mrs. Eden B. Harris) in Evans, Georgia; Mr. Eric LaDon Harris, Farmer and Retired Agricultural Educator, (Mrs. Monica B. Harris) in Blakely, Georgia; and Brigadier General Shawn Andre’ Harris, U.S. Army National Guard, (Dr. Karla Hemphill-Harris) in Tel Aviv, Israel. Her numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews are also very saddened by her loss.  Furthermore, grieving her loss, she leaves behind five dear sisters: Mrs. Selma Turner Rutledge (Mr. Alonzo Rutledge, deceased) in Jacksonville, Florida; Mrs. Ruth Grier Foster (Mr. Len Foster, deceased) in Hallandale, Florida; Mrs. Saphronnie Perry in Hallandale, Florida; Mrs. Linda Turner Dukes in Albany, Georgia; and Mrs. Brenda Turner Mitchell (Mr. Michael Mitchell) in Columbus, Ohio.  Additionally, mourning her passing, she leaves behind her beloved in-laws: Mrs. Annette H. Bullard (Mr. Julius Bullard, deceased) in Albany, Georgia; Mr. and Mrs. James W. and Francis W. Harris in Ozark, Alabama; Mr. Benny R. S. Harris in Ocala, Florida; Mr. and Mrs. Eugene C. and Nydia Harris in Brooklyn, New York; Mrs. Ruth H. Washington in Blakely, Georgia; and Mrs. Linda J. Thomas in Cambridge, Maryland.  Finally, these are some of her close, special friends who are now missing her immensely: Mr. Henry Alford Mills, Mrs. Beauty Lewis Smith, Mrs. Bessie Mae Powell Martin, and Mrs. Melba Harris Daniels.

 Private Viewing at People's Funeral Home, October 29, 2021, 12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM

Public Viewing  at People's Funeral Home, October 29, 2021, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Public Viewing at Greene Cemetery, October 30, 2021, 9:45  AM- 10:45 AM

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