Philip Lee Harris
Philip Lee Harris, 77, of Laurens, S.C., died Friday evening, Dec. 1, 2017, at Hospice of Laurens County.
Born in Laurens, he was the eldest son of Roy Lee Harris and Rose Bedenbaugh Harris.
Philip was a graduate of North Greenville Junior College and Erskine College. He did his graduate studies at the University of Georgia. Philip worked for the IRS and DSS before beginning his teaching career in Columbia, S.C., for Richland District 1.
He met his wife, Hallie Sue (Price) while living in Columbia. After their marriage, they relocated to Laurens where Philip worked for Laurens District 55 as the orthopedic educational specialist. In addition to his work with handicapped students, Philip also assisted homebound students and taught adult education students, both after school and at the Laurens County Prison. He spent the last part of his teaching career at Laurens District 55 High School, where he taught history.
A celebration of Philip’s life will be held on Saturday, December 9, at 2:00 p.m. at the home of his sister at 497 Lee Carey Road; Laurens, SC 29360.
Philip was an inspiration to all who had anything to overcome; his endurance was a summons to gratitude for those who had escaped life’s misfortunes.
The obituary is a litany of achievements, yet humbly devoid of much that could have been said: limited mobility, surgeries, a lengthy post-automobile-accident recovery, and other challenges of which most of us were unaware.
I have thought of Philip many times as I read of the able-bodied demanding more welfare, and of college drop-outs for whom the rigors of higher education were “just too hard.”
Tim, Amanda, Lee, Sam, and other family members: As for few others, a celebration of Philip’s life is appropriate, but please do not fail to take comfort in your own contributions, to which Philip would gratefully acknowledge his indebtedness.
With fond memories and profound sympathy,
John Rutledge
Colorado Springs, Colorado
johnvrutledge@gmail.com
Phillip was cousin we all admired because of his desire to be like all of the rest of us. When, as kids, we played at games of war or cowboy and Indians, he didn’t let his disabilities interfere with being part of the game. We all called him “Doc” because of what he knew from all of the visits to see them. I stayed with him and Uncle Roy and Aunt Rose when my brother Ted was born and it made a big impression on me as a result. I will miss “Doc” and his stories but know he is not suffering anymore. Love “Cousin Joel”
Mr Harris was my history teacher in 1973. He was a student favorite and I am so saddened to hear of his passing. My heart is broken.