Shelba Saunders Harris

Surrounded by a multitude of family, Shelba Saunders Harris left this world for her heavenly home on January 3, 2024.  There’s no question that her honey, Ken, who she was married to for almost 60 years greeted her at the gates.

Shelba was born on November 28, 1940, as the second child to amazing parents, the Reverend Marvin Venoy Saunders and Verna Smith Saunders. As one of seven she grew up in a loving, Christian home that taught her how to be one of the most kind, special people in the world. Her surviving siblings include:  Deane Sigmon (Rupert), Ava Crouch, adopted sister Meleah Beaty and adopted brother Daryl Saunders. With such a large family, there are many nieces and nephews as well.

She left home at the age of 14 to become a dedicated wife. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be missed by all who knew her but her absence will be especially felt by her daughters Wanda Cannon and husband Bill, Kathy Burris and fiancé Bud Cook, Lisa King and husband Timmy, and her daughter-in-law, Lorie Harris. She was a wonderful grandmother to Chris Carter (Linda), Tyra Dotson (Kenny), Chelene Stone (Jay), and Tonya King (Mike). It tickled her to have 12 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. She was so proud to be the matriarch of five generations.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her only son, Kenny Eugene Harris, grandson Jason Matthew Carter, son-in-law, David O. Burris, brother Jerry Saunders and three sisters:  Lois Tyler, Carolyn Hampton, and Elaine Wright.

Standing at a mere five feet tall, she may have been tiny, but she was mighty, rare to shed tears, she was the strongest of us all. Never one to speak an unkind word, her laughter was one of a kind. She was the epitome of a virtuous woman that prayed for all of us relentlessly. Even through sickness, loss, hardship, and suffering, she never lost her devout faith. May all of us strive to live out a life of goodness and love as she did.

We will remember her life on Sunday, January 7, 2024. The family will receive friends at Union Grove Baptist Church in Lenoir, NC from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.  A Celebration of Shelba’s life will be on January 7, 2024 at 3:00 pm at Union Grove Baptist Church in Lenoir, NC. Interment will immediately follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Lenoir, NC. Pallbearers will be Chris Carter, Kenny Dotson, Jay Stone, Chase Carter, Jakob Carter, Cooper Dotson and John “Ivee” Stone.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Union Grove Baptist Church, Prayer Garden or Food Ministry.

Words of comfort may be shared with family at www.evansfuneralservice.com.

Evans Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Shelba Harris.