Curtis West Harris (July 1, 1924 – December 10, 2017) was an African-American minister, civil rightsactivist, and politician in Virginia. He moved to Hopewell, Virginia with his family in 1928 where he grew into manhood. Harris married Ruth Jones of Hopewell on February 20, 1946, and they had six children. His loving wife of 65 years, died on May 22, 2011 and his son, Kenneth, died on March 2, 2019. The "Harris Connection," as the family fondly calls itself, includes Harris' five children---Curtis Jr., Michael, Joanne, Karen, and Michelle as well as two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, 19 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren.
Curtis W. Harris Jr., Kenneth C. Harris Sr. (deceased), Michael B. Harris I, Joanne Harris Lucas, Karen D. Bradford, Ruth Michelle Pritchett
Profession
Minister, civil rights activist, politician
Education
Hopewell Public Schools, Virginia Union University, Virginia University of Lynchburg, Virginia State University, Urban Training Center for Chrisian Missions, Medical College of Virginia
Harris' civil rights work began in 1950 with his stint as president of the Hopewell chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).[2] In 1960, he was arrested and sentenced to 60 days in jail for his role in a sit-in staged at segregated Georges' Drugstore in Hopewell. Later that year, he initiated a protest against the city's segregated swimming pool that culminated in the closure of the pool. In 1966, Harris led a peaceful demonstration to dissuade the city from building a landfill in Rosedale, a Hopewell African American community; and was confronted by the Ku Klux Klan on the steps of city hall.[3] Harris was arrested 13 times for civil disobedience during his years of involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and received death threats, as well as an effort to firebomb his home.[2][4]
In 1960, Harris helped to organize the Hopewell Improvement Association, an affiliate of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and was elected Vice President.[5] He was named to the Board of Directors of the National SCLC in 1961 while Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was president. Also in 1961, Harris was cited for contempt by the Boatwright Committee of the Virginia General Assembly for not revealing the names of individuals associated with SCLC and not responding to the questions asked by the committee. On March 29, 1962, Dr. King along with more than 100 Virginia ministers and laymen accompanied Harris to his contempt trial (Boatwright Committee) in Hopewell.[5] He worked with Dr. King on multiple civil rights initiatives, including the March on Washington in 1963 and the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965; and considered him one of his mentors in the Civil Rights Movement. Harris served as president of the Virginia State Unit of SCLC from 1963–1998, and was elected the National SCLC Vice President in 2005.[5] In 1968, Harris was appointed to the Virginia Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. In 1987, he led a march against discrimination in Colonial Heights, Virginia. He filed a racial discrimination complaint, in 1996, against the Fort Lee Army Base. In 1998 he became Hopewell's first black mayor.[6] In 2007, Harris demonstrated against a proposed ethanol plant being built in Hopewell with support from the national SCLC.[7]
Church and political work
Harris was employed as a janitor at Allied Chemical and Dye Company when he was ordained a Baptist minister in 1959. First Baptist Church, Bermuda Hundred in Chester, Virginia was where he first served as a pastor and remained there until 1969. In 1961, he was called to pastor at both Union Baptist Church in Hopewell and Gilfield Baptist Church in Ivor, Virginia. Harris retired from Gilfield in 1994, and on December 16, 2007, he delivered his final sermon at Union Baptist after a 46-year pastorship. Harris was also president of the Hopewell Ministerial Association, Moderator/Executive Director of Bethany Baptist Association and Allied Bodies, and affiliated with Lott Carey Foreign Mission.
As early as 1964, Harris ran for a seat on the Hopewell City Council. After seven attempts to be elected, he and many other like-minded residents moved the city of Hopewell to replace its longstanding at-large system with a ward system in 1983. Harris was finally elected to the Hopewell City Council (Ward 2) in 1986; in 1994 he was elected vice mayor; and in 1998, Harris was sworn in as the first African-American mayor of Hopewell. After 26 years of service to the city as well as to his constituents in Ward 2, Harris retired from his seat on the Hopewell City Council on March 1, 2012.[8]
On February 11, 2014, the Hopewell City Council voted to rename Terminal Street, "Rev C W Harris Street." For 57 years, Curtis and Ruth Harris lived at 209 Terminal Street, the street in Hopewell which now bears his name. The council also voted to rename Booker Street (which intersects Rev. C. W. Harris Street), "Ruth Harris Way" in honor of Harris' late wife, Dr. Ruth J. Harris. The Street Sign Ceremony, hosted by the Hopewell City Council, was held at Union Baptist Church on June 15, 2014, to pay tribute to Curtis and Ruth Harris. Herbert Bragg, Hopewell's Intergovernmental and Public Affairs Director was master of ceremony, music was rendered by the Harris Connection Singers (Harris' children and grandchildren) and statements were made by Union Baptist Pastor Dr. Anthony Nutt, Hopewell Mayor Michael Bujakowski, Hopewell Vice Mayor Jasmine Gore, Hopewell City Manager Mark Haley, Hopewell Councilwoman Brenda Pelham, Hopewell Councilwoman Jackie Shornak, Virginia State Senator Henry Marsh, and Dr. Joanne H. Lucas (Harris' daughter). Letters were read from Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, U.S. Senator Mark Warner and U.S. Senator Timothy Kaine.[9]
On July 1, 2017, Harris celebrated his 93rd birthday with family and friends at a program,"The Life and Legacy of Rev. Dr. Curtis West Harris," hosted by Union Baptist Church where he was Pastor Emeritus. He died in Chester, Virginia at The Crossings at Ironbridge on December 10, 2017, at the age of 93.[10]
Awards and honors
1971 - Citizen of the Year Award (Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Delta Omega chapter)
1984 - Majestic Leader Award (The Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, Landover, MD)
1992 - Unmatched Determination Award (Southern Christian Leadership Conference National Board)
1998 - Sworn in as first African-American mayor of Hopewell, Virginia
2000 - American Century Award (The Washington Times Foundation, Inc., Washington, DC)
2001 - Selected for Dominion Strong Men and Women: Excellence in Leadership (Dominion Energy, Richmond, VA)
2005 - Elected Vice President of National Southern Christian Leadership Conference
2007 - Library in Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell, Virginia dedicated to and named for Curtis W. Harris (Hopewell School Board, Hopewell, VA)
2014 - Two streets in Hopewell, Virginia renamed in honor of Curtis W. Harris and his wife, Ruth J. Harris (Hopewell City Council, Hopewell, VA)
2015 - Highlighted at the Virginia Legends Luncheon (Radio One Incorporated, Richmond, VA)
2016 - Lifetime Leadership Award (Children's Home of Virginia Baptist, Inc., Petersburg, VA)
2017 - Life and Legacy of Rev. Dr. Curtis West Harris Celebration (Union Baptist Church, Hopewell, VA)
2019 - Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) introduced bipartisan legislation to name the Hopewell post office at 117 West Poythress Street in honor of Curtis Harris.
2020 - Congressman McEachin's legislation was unanimously passed in the House and the Senate. It became public law on December 21, 2020.
2021 - Reverend Curtis West Harris Post Office Ceremony and Reception took place in Hopewell on July 15, 2021.
References
^. thenewjournalandguide.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
^ abSetegn, Lea (2006-02-13). "Curtis W. Harris". The TimesDispatch. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
^. The HopewellNews. Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
^Lazarus, Jeremy M. (15 December 2017). "Rev. Curtis W. Harris, civil rights activist, 1st black Hopewell mayor, dies at 93". Richmond Free Press. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
^ abc"SCLC People to People Tour" (PDF). SCLC Newsletter. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
^"Rev. Curtis W. Harris, Hopewell's Drum Major for Justice". William & Mary Libraries. 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
^. Dominion. Archived from the original on 2008-03-15. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
^. WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, LA. Archived from the original on 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
^"Hopewell Political Rights Activist Get Street Named After Him". WRIC.com. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
^Monfort, Ashley. "Civil Rights leader, former Hopewell mayor dies". Retrieved 15 December 2017.
External links
Curtis W. Harris Website
Recognition of Virginia Civil Rights Activists 2005
The HistoryMakers
Civil rights leader Harris to attend the State of the Union
Curtis Harris 2003 Voices of Freedom Oral History from VCU Libraries Digital Collection
Rev. Curtis W. Harris, Hopewell's Drum Major for Justice
We Shall Overcome--Curtis W. Harris--Civil Rights Movement
Hopewell Mayor Curtis Harris — a civil rights leader who marched hand-in-hand with Martin Luther King — dies at 93
Senate approves bills putting names on Virginia post offices, including Curtis Harris in Hopewell
Reverend Curtis West Harris Post Office Building
McEachin Hosts Post Office Renaming & Dedication Service in Honor of the Late Reverend Curtis W. Harris
January 07, 2023
curtis, harris, curtis, west, harris, july, 1924, december, 2017, african, american, minister, civil, rights, activist, politician, virginia, moved, hopewell, virginia, with, family, 1928, where, grew, into, manhood, harris, married, ruth, jones, hopewell, feb. Curtis West Harris July 1 1924 December 10 2017 was an African American minister civil rights activist and politician in Virginia He moved to Hopewell Virginia with his family in 1928 where he grew into manhood Harris married Ruth Jones of Hopewell on February 20 1946 and they had six children His loving wife of 65 years died on May 22 2011 and his son Kenneth died on March 2 2019 The Harris Connection as the family fondly calls itself includes Harris five children Curtis Jr Michael Joanne Karen and Michelle as well as two daughters in law one son in law 19 grandchildren 28 great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren Curtis W HarrisCurtis W HarrisPersonal detailsBorn 1924 07 01 July 1 1924Dendron VirginiaDiedDecember 10 2017 2017 12 10 aged 93 Chester Virginia U S 1 ResidenceHopewell VirginiaParentsThelma and Sandy HarrisSpouseDr Ruth Jones Harris deceased ChildrenCurtis W Harris Jr Kenneth C Harris Sr deceased Michael B Harris I Joanne Harris Lucas Karen D Bradford Ruth Michelle PritchettProfessionMinister civil rights activist politicianEducationHopewell Public Schools Virginia Union University Virginia University of Lynchburg Virginia State University Urban Training Center for Chrisian Missions Medical College of Virginia Contents 1 Civil rights work 2 Church and political work 3 Awards and honors 4 References 5 External linksCivil rights work Edit Martin Luther King Jr and Harris 1967Harris civil rights work began in 1950 with his stint as president of the Hopewell chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NAACP 2 In 1960 he was arrested and sentenced to 60 days in jail for his role in a sit in staged at segregated Georges Drugstore in Hopewell Later that year he initiated a protest against the city s segregated swimming pool that culminated in the closure of the pool In 1966 Harris led a peaceful demonstration to dissuade the city from building a landfill in Rosedale a Hopewell African American community and was confronted by the Ku Klux Klan on the steps of city hall 3 Harris was arrested 13 times for civil disobedience during his years of involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and received death threats as well as an effort to firebomb his home 2 4 In 1960 Harris helped to organize the Hopewell Improvement Association an affiliate of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference SCLC and was elected Vice President 5 He was named to the Board of Directors of the National SCLC in 1961 while Dr Martin Luther King Jr was president Also in 1961 Harris was cited for contempt by the Boatwright Committee of the Virginia General Assembly for not revealing the names of individuals associated with SCLC and not responding to the questions asked by the committee On March 29 1962 Dr King along with more than 100 Virginia ministers and laymen accompanied Harris to his contempt trial Boatwright Committee in Hopewell 5 He worked with Dr King on multiple civil rights initiatives including the March on Washington in 1963 and the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965 and considered him one of his mentors in the Civil Rights Movement Harris served as president of the Virginia State Unit of SCLC from 1963 1998 and was elected the National SCLC Vice President in 2005 5 In 1968 Harris was appointed to the Virginia Advisory Committee to the U S Commission on Civil Rights In 1987 he led a march against discrimination in Colonial Heights Virginia He filed a racial discrimination complaint in 1996 against the Fort Lee Army Base In 1998 he became Hopewell s first black mayor 6 In 2007 Harris demonstrated against a proposed ethanol plant being built in Hopewell with support from the national SCLC 7 Church and political work EditHarris was employed as a janitor at Allied Chemical and Dye Company when he was ordained a Baptist minister in 1959 First Baptist Church Bermuda Hundred in Chester Virginia was where he first served as a pastor and remained there until 1969 In 1961 he was called to pastor at both Union Baptist Church in Hopewell and Gilfield Baptist Church in Ivor Virginia Harris retired from Gilfield in 1994 and on December 16 2007 he delivered his final sermon at Union Baptist after a 46 year pastorship Harris was also president of the Hopewell Ministerial Association Moderator Executive Director of Bethany Baptist Association and Allied Bodies and affiliated with Lott Carey Foreign Mission As early as 1964 Harris ran for a seat on the Hopewell City Council After seven attempts to be elected he and many other like minded residents moved the city of Hopewell to replace its longstanding at large system with a ward system in 1983 Harris was finally elected to the Hopewell City Council Ward 2 in 1986 in 1994 he was elected vice mayor and in 1998 Harris was sworn in as the first African American mayor of Hopewell After 26 years of service to the city as well as to his constituents in Ward 2 Harris retired from his seat on the Hopewell City Council on March 1 2012 8 On February 11 2014 the Hopewell City Council voted to rename Terminal Street Rev C W Harris Street For 57 years Curtis and Ruth Harris lived at 209 Terminal Street the street in Hopewell which now bears his name The council also voted to rename Booker Street which intersects Rev C W Harris Street Ruth Harris Way in honor of Harris late wife Dr Ruth J Harris The Street Sign Ceremony hosted by the Hopewell City Council was held at Union Baptist Church on June 15 2014 to pay tribute to Curtis and Ruth Harris Herbert Bragg Hopewell s Intergovernmental and Public Affairs Director was master of ceremony music was rendered by the Harris Connection Singers Harris children and grandchildren and statements were made by Union Baptist Pastor Dr Anthony Nutt Hopewell Mayor Michael Bujakowski Hopewell Vice Mayor Jasmine Gore Hopewell City Manager Mark Haley Hopewell Councilwoman Brenda Pelham Hopewell Councilwoman Jackie Shornak Virginia State Senator Henry Marsh and Dr Joanne H Lucas Harris daughter Letters were read from Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe U S Senator Mark Warner and U S Senator Timothy Kaine 9 On July 1 2017 Harris celebrated his 93rd birthday with family and friends at a program The Life and Legacy of Rev Dr Curtis West Harris hosted by Union Baptist Church where he was Pastor Emeritus He died in Chester Virginia at The Crossings at Ironbridge on December 10 2017 at the age of 93 10 Awards and honors Edit1971 Citizen of the Year Award Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Delta Omega chapter 1972 Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree Virginia University of Lynchburg Lynchburg VA 1978 Dedicated Service Award Virginia State University President Board of Visitors and Faculty Petersburg VA 1981 Rosa Parks Award National Southern Christian Leadership Conference 1983 Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law degree Virginia University of Lynchburg Lynchburg VA 1984 Recognition of Excellence United States Department of Housing and Urban Development 1984 Majestic Leader Award The Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention Landover MD 1992 Unmatched Determination Award Southern Christian Leadership Conference National Board 1998 Sworn in as first African American mayor of Hopewell Virginia 2000 American Century Award The Washington Times Foundation Inc Washington DC 2001 Selected for Dominion Strong Men and Women Excellence in Leadership Dominion Energy Richmond VA 2005 Elected Vice President of National Southern Christian Leadership Conference 2007 Library in Carter G Woodson Middle School in Hopewell Virginia dedicated to and named for Curtis W Harris Hopewell School Board Hopewell VA 2014 Two streets in Hopewell Virginia renamed in honor of Curtis W Harris and his wife Ruth J Harris Hopewell City Council Hopewell VA 2015 Highlighted at the Virginia Legends Luncheon Radio One Incorporated Richmond VA 2016 Lifetime Leadership Award Children s Home of Virginia Baptist Inc Petersburg VA 2017 Life and Legacy of Rev Dr Curtis West Harris Celebration Union Baptist Church Hopewell VA 2019 Congressman A Donald McEachin VA 04 introduced bipartisan legislation to name the Hopewell post office at 117 West Poythress Street in honor of Curtis Harris 2020 Congressman McEachin s legislation was unanimously passed in the House and the Senate It became public law on December 21 2020 2021 Reverend Curtis West Harris Post Office Ceremony and Reception took place in Hopewell on July 15 2021 References Edit Dr Curtis W Harris 93 Va Civil Rights Icon Passes the New Journal and Guide thenewjournalandguide com Archived from the original on 13 September 2020 Retrieved 22 May 2022 a b Setegn Lea 2006 02 13 Curtis W Harris The TimesDispatch Retrieved 2008 02 02 Community Honors Harris The HopewellNews Archived from the original on 2016 11 04 Retrieved 2012 07 31 Lazarus Jeremy M 15 December 2017 Rev Curtis W Harris civil rights activist 1st black Hopewell mayor dies at 93 Richmond Free Press Retrieved 2022 04 13 a b c SCLC People to People Tour PDF SCLC Newsletter Retrieved 2016 11 01 Rev Curtis W Harris Hopewell s Drum Major for Justice William amp Mary Libraries 2019 05 14 Retrieved 2022 04 13 2001 Honorees Curtis W Harris Dominion Archived from the original on 2008 03 15 Retrieved 2008 02 02 Hopewell Rev Curtis Harris to retire from city council WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge LA Archived from the original on 2016 11 03 Retrieved 2016 11 01 Hopewell Political Rights Activist Get Street Named After Him WRIC com Retrieved 2014 06 16 Monfort Ashley Civil Rights leader former Hopewell mayor dies Retrieved 15 December 2017 External links EditCurtis W Harris Website Recognition of Virginia Civil Rights Activists 2005 The HistoryMakers Civil rights leader Harris to attend the State of the Union Curtis Harris 2003 Voices of Freedom Oral History from VCU Libraries Digital Collection Rev Curtis W Harris Hopewell s Drum Major for Justice We Shall Overcome Curtis W Harris Civil Rights Movement Hopewell Mayor Curtis Harris a civil rights leader who marched hand in hand with Martin Luther King dies at 93 Senate approves bills putting names on Virginia post offices including Curtis Harris in Hopewell Reverend Curtis West Harris Post Office Building McEachin Hosts Post Office Renaming amp Dedication Service in Honor of the Late Reverend Curtis W Harris Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Curtis W Harris amp oldid 1106219198, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
