Jerry Honeycutt Harris

Jerry Honeycutt Harris passed away peacefully in Lake Charles, LA, on March 24, 2011, at the age of 87.

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Jerry attended Northeast Louisiana State University (1941-43) where she was instrumental in establishing the Indianettes Drill Team. She received her degree in Speech and Drama from San Jose State College in California. She met William Henry Harris, her loving husband of 67 years, while he was stationed at Selman Field in Monroe, LA. As a sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, business professional, and friend, Jerry was tirelessly devoted and an inspiration to all who knew her.

When she and Lt. Col. Harris retired from military life after 25 years of service, Jerry's personal career path subsequently led her to the Girl Scouts of the USA and her acclaimed service as Executive Director of Girl Scout councils in Norfolk, VA, Monroe, LA, and Baton Rouge, LA, eventually retiring after 36 years of service.

Jerry was a member of Colonial Dames and Magna Charta Dames. A natural leader, she was always actively involved in The United Methodist Church wherever she was living. Her volunteer spirit never waned, even after she and Bill retired to the Pinecrest Retirement Community in Lufkin, TX, and then later to The Gardens in Lake Charles, LA.

Jerry is survived by her husband, William H. (Bill) Harris of Lake Charles, LA; her sister Lou Thomas of Fayetteville, AK; four children and their spouses: Adel Jeff Murphy of Lake Charles, LA; Cindy Steve Reddy of Galveston, TX; Karen Dennis Wall of Marietta, GA; and Carleton Lynda Harris of Blairsville, GA; 9 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded by her parents William Centenary Honeycutt and Lillie Belle Carpenter Honeycutt; her sister Janice Honeycutt Payne; and her grandson Bryan Alexander Reddy.

Jerry's life will be celebrated at funeral services held in the Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe, LA on Sunday, March 27, 2011, at 1 pm under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made "in memory of Jerry H. Harris" to the Louisiana Methodist Conference Bishop's Scholarship Fund. {c/o St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church, 1500 Country Club Road, Lake Charles, LA 70605} The family wishes to thank the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital staff for their unrelenting compassion and impeccable care, with special appreciation for the professionalism of the attending doctors. We also wish to thank St. Luke Simpson United Methodist Church for their caring support through this trying time.