Barbara Wester Harris
September 21, 1933 ~ January 24, 2021
ROCKY MOUNT - Barbara Wester Harris, age 87, passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2021. Born in Franklin County, NC on September 21, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Hugh Glenn Wester and Gladys Beddenfield Wester. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Vester Thomas Harris; her brother, Glenn Wester; and her sister, Brenda Barefoot (Tommy).
Barbara's sweet smile, thoughtful manner and fun sense of humor will be greatly missed. At an early age, the family moved to Bailey where she graduated from Bailey High School in 1951. Barbara married her high school sweetheart Vester Harris in 1951 and moved to Rocky Mount to seek job opportunities. She was employed at Southern of Rocky Mount as a secretary to the President of the company. Barbara also worked at Planters National Bank, Virginia's Dress Shop and attended Nash Community College. In her late husband's journal, Vester wrote "Barbara is the sweetest girl in the world. 42 years later I would still choose to marry the sweet eighteen-year-old girl who has been the love of my life". Barbara was a member of Lakeside Baptist Church, a Sunday school teacher and a member of Circle 10 at Lakeside. She was Past-President of the Opti-Mrs. Club. Barbara attended several class reunion gatherings at the infamous Bailey Caf. Her sweet spirit will forever be a missing presence in the lives she touched.
Barbara is survived by her son, Thomas Ray Harris of Wilmington; her grandchildren, Eleanor Gregory Harris of Wilmington and William Thomas Harris of Raleigh; her brother, Louis Wester (Sara) of Bailey; her sister-laws, Mildred Brown of Rocky Mount and Louise Vick (JB) of Kill Devil Hills; her brothers-in-law, Sanford Harris (Betsy) and John Denton of Rocky Mount; a host of nieces and nephews and extended friends and family - Caroline Carrier of Wilmington, Nick Carrier of Rocky Mount and devoted friend and caregivers Mrs. Diane Cordell Wright and Ms. Irma
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
My prayers goes out to the Harris family may God be with you as you go through these times of sorrow. Keep your head up know that God is there with you.
condolences & prayers….we attended the online service…Pat leaves a rich, Godly legacy for all of us Mike & Gatsy Eason
So sorry for your loss. Barbara was such a sweet lady & I was honored to know her.
I was sad to hear the news of the passing of Barbara. Barbara was on a team at Centura that I was assigned to manage when I first moved to Rocky Mount in 1995. I will never forget that during our first conversation, she told me she was within a year of retirement and there was nothing I could do that was going to run her off! I knew then that she was a person who was going to speak her mind and that I could count on to always be truthful with me. Over that first year, she was invaluable to me as it was her that taught me what I needed to know about that team. Even after she retired, she continued to come back and work for us for several years. It was always a joy to talk to her and to hear about Thomas and the grandkids. She made no bones that she loved her husband, her family, and her church. I know she will be missed by all. May the Holy Spirit provide all of you with comfort during this time of loss. Alex Bowers Springboro OH
In memory of Barbara Wester Harris, DOROTHY BODDIE lit a candle
Thomas, Will, and Eleanor , I was so sad to read about your mother , grandmother . I wish I had known her ,as she sounds like a lovely lady . You’re in my heart and prayers during this difficult time . I love you . Jane Rippy