Frederick Harris

Frederick Rayford Harris, Sr. was born in London, West Virginia. He retired from the U.S. Army after serving 20 years.  After he retired from the Army, Mr. Harris held many diverse positions. These positions included Corrections Officer for the state of Texas, Management Consultant, Equal Opportunity Consultant, Adjunct Professor at Central College (Killeen, TX), Organizational and Personal Development  Consultant , Training Administrator/Deputy Director of the Command Department, Combined Arms Training Center in Vilseck Germany.  Mr. Harris retired from the Department of the Army in October 1999.

He was a graduate of the Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (Patrick Air Force Base, FL); The Organizational Effectiveness Training Center (Ft. Ord, CA); and was a Certified Department of Defense Dispute Mediator.

Mr. Harris held an AA Degree in Law Enforcement, a BS Degree in Criminal Justice, a BS Degree in Social Rehabilitation, and a Graduate Studies Degree in Counseling Psychology, Social Psychology and Educational Psychology.

Mr. Harris’s many accomplishments included assisting in the designing and development of the “Audi Murphy Club”, an elite organization at Fort Hood TX, for outstanding Non-commissioned officers.  He was also recognized in “Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities.”

He was a very busy man who designed and conducted a leadership training course for military spouses. He also designed and conducted an alternative Non-Commissioned Officer’s Course for the United States Army; was a past Vice President of the Counseling Club at the University of Central Texas. (Killeen, TX) and served as a board member of the Families in Crisis Center. (Killeen, TX)

Additionally, Mr. Harris served on the citizen task force for the enhancement of police community relations; The Board of Adjustments; and The Sub-Division Ordnance Committee (Copperas Cove, TX)

He was also proud of his service as a City Council Member for the City of Copperas Cove TX.

Frederick Harris, Sr. will be missed dearly and remembered every day.  Anyone who had the benefit of meeting him was quick to find out, he was “right” and you might not be. “Might” was just a way to let you down easy.

Frederick R. Harris, Sr. was preceded in death by his mother Susie Harris and his father Fliger Eli Harris. He is survived by his wife, Bernadette Harris; daughter, Melody (Earl) Matthews; son, Frederick R. Harris, Jr.; and grandchildren: LaToya (Tony) Burns, LaTonya Matthews, Foster (RoKia) Lawson, and Jasmine Harris. Through the privilege of blending his family via his marriage to Bernadette, he was also the grandfather to Dominique Brooks, Devonte Brooks, Caprica Brooks, and Elijah Washington. Frederick R. Harris, Sr. is survived by 14 great-grandchildren.

Frederick R. Harris, Sr. will be deeply missed by his loved ones. His family would like to give a special “Thank You” to Harper-Talasek Funeral Home for assisting us during this difficult time. We would also like to extend a special “Thank You” to Chaplin Sean Payton, Donald Buckram, Sr., as well as the catering service, Five Loaves, Two Fish.