THE COLEMAN FAMILY

THE COLEMAN FAMILY

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"LISTEN, YOUR GRANDFATHER IS SPEAKING!"

Bishop and Mother Harris

Our lives are like pebbles tossed into a pond, leaving ever-widening rings and ripples of influence. Long after a stone disappears, the ripples continue.

Just so, after a person passes from our sight, the impact of his knowledge, Values, Sacrifices, and Faith live on in the membership of Family Love. That is why we are here today-to lift up in our memory, Bishop Fred Harris, Sr.
The appreciation for his Struggles, Character, and Life, remembering what is True, Just, Honorable, Pure, Lovely, Gracious, and Excellent.

Ever since Alex Haley's Book entitled "Roots," It has been popular to look back to one's heritage: To those who have gone before us; To reconstruct their Trials, Victories, Defeats, and Deprivations endured and to view their hopes and dreams. We have come here to do that as children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great, great-grandchildren and friends.

In times when people often feel restless and rootless, the best antidote is to see how our elders coped with upheaval. Our stability, sense of community, and society depends upon it.

"Listen. YOUR GRANDFATHER IS SPEAKING!" He is saying something about values, What count most in your lives. I hear him saying. Jesus counted most in his life. What Do You Hear? He is saying something about the importance of service to your fellow-man.

The voices of your grandparents are the way Faith, Hope and Love are transmitted from Generation to Generation.

I believe the Lord was going about seeking citizens for His Kingdom; He was asked by an angel, "Have you considered your servant Fred Harris, Sr.? He is a Just and Upright man who FEARS and SERVES God. His life has been productive and useful because his life has been motivated by the Holy Spirit . . He has produced Fruits such as Love, Joy, Peace, and many others. . .

His life has not been an easy road, NO, NOT AT ALL. His FAITH has been tested by FLOOD, HAIL, WIND, STORMS, LIGHTENING STRIKES, and Sometime, like all of us, HE FAILED. But he didn't QUIT. He never Lost FAITH nor HOPE. He Endured the Depression, and several of his ten (10) children were born during the Depression Years. All those things helped to strengthen his FAITH because he knew that the things of this life, GOOD or BAD are only temporary.

Ten years ago, You called home his wife of more than 65 years, Mother Eliza Harris. They were inseparable. She also loved God and served the Lord Jesus all of her life." The Angel continued by saying, "Now, wont you consider Bishop Fred Harris? He is so tired." The Lord listened intently, Then said, "It is time for me to call him home and give him his full reward."

In closing, Life is like a relay race where the Baton of Values, Character and Faith are passed from one GENERATION to another. The Runner ahead passes it on; Runs by our side for a while, and then WE pass it onto those who come after us, ONE by ONE. Don't let your Fathers, Mothers and Grandparents down by dropping the Baton.

Your Family continuity hangs in the balance. The Baton of one Generation's Values, Hopes, Love and Faith is being passed on. Please don't drop the Baton. "LISTEN, YOUR GRANDFATHER IS SPEAKING!"

"Speak . . . For Your Servant Hears."

Respectfully submitted to the Harris Family by:

Your Brother, GrandFather, Uncle, Cousin, and the Lord's Chosen Servant,

Reverend James J. Harris

(December 30, 2000)

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Fred and Eliza Harris, November 22, 1925

Some families know a great deal about their roots; others know very little. This site is an attempt to record what I've learned about our family history. In these modern times, families tend to be scattered all over the country, and sometimes the world. One of the goals of this web site is to help our family stay connected even though we live far apart.

I was inspired to research my family history after the death of my mother in 1991. While laying in my bed dreaming fond memories of her, I realized that I did not know very much about my ancestry.

I had no idea where to began my search, so my husband Joseph and I decided to join the National African American Genealogy Society. There we learned the different techniques for searching our roots. We were told it would be different for African Americans and much harder because of the way they were listed on some records.

We later became members of the National Archives based in Washington, DC. Membership gave us access to the United States Census Records which allowed us to order micro film and search copies of orginial records.

The first record I found was the 1900 Mississippi State Census Record. This record had George Coleman Sr. listed as head of household, the state of his birth and the year he was born. Also on the record was Mary Coleman listed as his wife, and eight of the Coleman children; Daniel, Amos, Osiah, Lillian, George Jr., Rosa, Anderson and Peggy or Panky.

From this record I was able to accumulate enough information to order a copy of the 1900 United States Census. This record contained more information about the family than the state record. It showed that George Sr. could read and it listed the birth state for the parents of both George and Mary Coleman.

Other information on this record :

1. The birth month and year of each person in the household;

2. Whether anyone in the household could read or write or if they attended school;

3. Whether the family owned or rented their home; lived in town or on a farm

4. Their sex and their race;

Most of the information on this site was obtained from the National Archives in Washington, DC. I also talked to older members in the family collecting whatever information they could offer that would help my search.

I also obtained information from the following: The Vital Statistics Records in Austin, Texas, the Division of Vital Record in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Archives and Library Division in Jackson, Mississippi, the Marriage License Division in Noxubee, Mississippi, the Division of Vital Statistics in Springfield, Illinois, the United States Social Security, the Jackson County Court House in Murphysboro, Illinois, the Internet and old newspaper articles.

In the course of doing this research, I have discovered that I have many more relatives than I ever thought possible! This has been a continuing journey in my search for our ancestors, so please contact me if you have any information that might help.

A special thank you to Terry in Oklahoma, my brother Al, my sister Dorothy, my sons and their wives, Ruben, Belinda, Cornelius and Leticia.

You were a tremendous help in creating this site. Without each of you it could not have been done. We all worked from different cities and states but we worked together successfully. May God continue to bless each of you always.

Tena Johnson