-HIs Life -

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1
On Tuesday, October 5, 1948 in Brenham, Texas Esther and Cecil Albert Harris Sr. welcomed Cecil Jr. as
the second child of what would become The Harris 7.
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I
became a man, I put away childish things." I Corinthians 13:11
Cecil accepted Christ at an early age under the leadership of Pastor J.L. Foster of Hamilton Park First
Baptist Church, however as a teen, he would frequent Hamilton Park United Methodist under the
leadership of Pastor Holmes where many of his teen friends attended.
Cecil's early childhood education began in Brenham, Texas. His early years of elementary education was
in a one room classroom Stone School with his Aunt Johnnie Mae Webb as his very strict teacher,
principal and janitor… Auntie did it all! He then attended Alton Jr. High School in Brenham, Texas and
transferred to Hamilton Park High School in Richardson, Texas where he attended 8th through 12th grade.
Cecil Jr. volunteered for the draft after graduating from Hamilton Park High School. He served in the
United States Army overseas and was honorably discharged. When returning back to the states, he met
Connie Handy. Cecil Jr. and Connie Handy united in Holy Matrimony in November of 1972 and they
would begin their life together in Richardson, Texas and later relocated to Dallas, Texas. God gifted Cecil
Jr. along with Connie, seven children to nourish, guide and love. Jokingly, I recently said to him "seven
must be a lucky number for Cecil Sr. and Jr."
"Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 19:19
All who knew Cecil Jr. knew of his love of family, however, they also knew "Dem Boyz" - The Dallas
Cowboys was his NFL Team! Being a child of two different hometowns, he loved them both Brenham,
TX and Hamilton Park, TX.
Cecil enjoyed family gatherings for the food and also, he could update family members on the status of his
children. He was a man of few words, but a few you wouldn't say at Church but most just were his
signature words of endearment. He knew his way around the kitchen. The nieces and nephews loved his
potatoes and onions and his pancakes.
"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." John 14:18
Cecil was preceded in death by his parents Esther and Cecil Sr.; brother George Harris; niece Karen
Brown; niece Fache Harris; two great nephews and brother in law Ondra Howard.
He leaves to cherish his memories: wife: Connie Harris of Dallas, Texas; daughters: Yolanda Harris
Dawson, Teresa Vinzant (John), Rita Mann (Terrance), Pamela Springsteen Griffis; sons: James
Dickerson (Mary), Richard Hanks (Deloris), Merton Hanks (Marva); the remaining Harris 7: Shirley H.
Jackson (Keith), Dr. John D. Harris (Helen), Vanessa Howard all of Brenham, Texas, Julia Faye Harris
Williams (Stanley) and Robert Harris all of Cedar Hill, Texas; grands: Michael Dickerson, Monica Gaddis
Dickerson, Richard Hanks Mann, Andrew Hanks, Jennifer Dickerson, Anthony Dickerson, Milo
Dickerson, Maya Hanks, Christopher Hanks, Milan Hanks and Malea Dickerson; a very close Childhood
Friend to Present: Clyde Lewis; God sister: Wendy Ensley (Rick); and a host of nieces, nephews, great
nieces, great nephews, many cousins near and far along with his Hamilton Park Family and Friends.