Emmie Caroline Pittman Harris

Emmie Caroline Pittman Harris, 92, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2017 surrounded by her family. 

Emmie was born on October 16, 1925 to the late Bessie and George Pittman in Lumberton, North Carolina. Her husband of 50 years, Clarence Poole Harris, Sr. and her son Clarence Poole Harris, Jr. preceded her in death.

Mrs. Harris was a graduate of Woman’s College now known as UNC Greensboro. She was a member of Front Street United Methodist Church where she was actively involved in the Builders’ Sunday School Class. In addition, she was a member of the Lady Lions, the NCAE and the Burlington Elk’s Club. She was also the last surviving member of her garden club.

Emmie had an endless capacity to love. The greatest display of this gift was her work for 25 years as a Special Education Teacher with Alamance County and Burlington City Schools at North Graham Elementary School, Eastlawn Elementary School, and Harvey Newlin Elementary School. 

She was fiercely loyal and strongly independent, two attributes from which her family will benefit the most. Emmie loved to read and was a master storyteller and owner of an extraordinary smile. She provided laughter and comic relief on many occasions and always left you wanting more.  With a sweet tooth as big as she was, there was never a lack of food or comfort to be found in her home. To say that she will truly be missed by many is an understatement.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Kathleen “Kathy” Harris Cole and husband Thomas “Tommy” Worthy Cole; two sons, James “Jimmy” Carlton Harris and George Thomas “Tommy” Harris and wife Michele Carroll Harris; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Debra Pittman Quick; two brothers, Al Pittman and Wayne Pittman; many nieces and nephews; and her four-legged best friend, Raisin.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 17, 2017 at the Rich & Thompson Chapel in Burlington with Pastor Ross Carter officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 12:45 until 1:45 p.m. on Friday prior to the service at Rich & Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service in Burlington. Other times they will be at the residence of each of her three surviving children.

Memorials may be made to Front Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 2597, Burlington, NC 27216 or Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215.

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