Jerry Lynn Harris

Jerry Harris, age 81, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, at his home in Durham on June 10, 2021. He was born on January 16, 1940 to the late Tony and Omah Harris.

Born in San Diego, California, Jerry grew up living all over the United States due to his father’s career in the U.S. Navy. The family eventually settled in Pineville, Louisiana where Jerry attended Pineville High School, graduating in 1958 as a gifted athlete and scholar. He went on to obtain a B.S. degree and Master’s degree in Physics from Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana. In 1963, Jerry entered the U.S. Navy and, as a newly commissioned Ensign, had hopes of becoming a Naval aviator, but due to his less than perfect vision, he was assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he taught physics classes to Navy Commanders. Eager for active duty at sea, he requested reassignment and was assigned to the USS Sellers (DDG-11), in her home port of Charleston, South Carolina. It was here that he met his future wife, Brenda Darby. Jerry and Brenda were married on June 5, 1966 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Upon leaving his active-duty position in the Navy, he accepted a teaching position at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, before receiving an NSF grant to pursue a Ph.D. in Physics at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Although his research project was ultimately unsuccessful, through his connections with Duke University faculty, he joined Wilmore Electronics Co., Inc. During his nearly forty year career at Wilmore, he was proud of his work as the leader of the Sales and Marketing team and proud to work with his talented colleagues in all areas of product creation. Throughout his professional business career, Jerry also remained in the Naval Reserve serving as Commander of the Durham/Raleigh Reserve Unit and finally retiring as a Navy Captain after twenty-one years of service.

Ever the sports enthusiast, Jerry found great delight in coaching all his children in YMCA soccer for over ten years and offering support in the cycling careers of his two sons. As an avid runner and longtime member of the Carolina Godiva Track Club, he became a serious competitor later in life, winning multiple age-group categories in the Running Journal Grand Prix Series. Jerry’s love for running allowed him and his wife, Brenda, to travel the world, participating in marathons in London, Dublin, Venice, and Paris. Within the United States, Jerry was most proud of running the Boston Marathon seventeen times, the Grandfather Mountain Marathon twenty times, and setting his marathon PR of 3:16 at the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville Alabama, at the ripe old age of fifty-nine years and eleven months. Jerry’s enthusiasm for athletics was contagious and an inspiration to many, especially his grandchildren. His love and appreciation for art, literature (ranging from Jane Austen to Patrick O’Brian), classical music, opera (Edith Piaf and Mirella Freni), good Italian food, the Boston Red Sox, and his distinguished group of running buddies all played an integral part in enriching his everyday life. Jerry was loved by his friends and coworkers, but was at his best with his family.

Jerry Harris is survived by his wife of 55 years, Brenda Darby Harris, his brother Jon Harris (Patty), his son Darby Harris (Patricia), his son Josh Harris (Kristen), his daughter Kate Harris (Ben), his grandson Andrew Harris, and his granddaughters Ada Bridgers, Olive Bridgers, and Genepy Adelman Harris. Jerry was preceded in death by his father Tony Henderson Harris and his mother Omah Snell Harris, both originally from southeastern Oklahoma.

A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Durham (https://www.durhamhabitat.org/donate), Urban Ministries of Durham (https://umdurham.org/donate/alternative-giving.html), or WCPE (https://theclassicalstation.org/choose-donation/one-time/).

The Harris family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Durham, NC.