Lillie Mattie Harris

Lillie Mattie Harris, 88, died on June 28, 2016. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and -nephews, and great grand-nieces and -nephews, residents of many states. She was the beloved aunt of Rodney Maxwell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, and Kenneth Maxwell who are celebrating her long life with joy.
Lillie Harris, born October 27, 1927, in Greenville, SC, was the youngest of Eva Groves Harris' nine children, and the last to survive. After high school, Lillie joined the US Navy as a WAVE where she earned a certificate from the Navy School of Dental Technology and worked as a Dental Technician and Dental Hygienist. In 1957 she received a BA degree from Hunter College (NY) in Sociology and Psychology. She then attended Columbia University (NY) where she received a Master's Degree in Social Work, beginning her career as a Psychiatric Social worker and Supervisor at Rockland State Hospital (NY) and subsequently, Manhattan State Hospital (NY). In 1972 she became the Program Administrator for the “NY Mobilization for Youth” and two years later, the Project Director of the National Urban League's Community Health Program.
Lillie returned to Greenville, SC in 1976 and became the Mental Heath Counselor III for the South Carolina State Mental Health Department from which she retired in 1989 to pursue private practice as a Psychotherapist.
Lillie was innovative and had a spirit of adventure, an amazing woman with a broad spectrum of interests and talents: international travel; art collecting; real estate investing (including carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work – “house-flipping” before it was known as such); furniture restoration; auto maintenance; buying and selling antiques and collectibles; a continuing quest for knowledge; and personal mentoring. One of her mentees developed a beautiful new clone of orchid (Phalaenopsis Ching Her Buddah) and named it the “Lillie Harris”. She relished the challenge of solving physical as well as psychological problems; she was inordinately successful at doing both. She was also known by many to be an “animal whisperer” with numerous examples of adoration from the creatures she embraced. Her child-like laughter was delightful and infectious.
The family wishes to thank the many people of PruittHealth Hospice who served Lillie from January 2015 until her passing, as well as the many wonderful women who spent hours with her throughout her hospice confinement. We will be eternally grateful for your kindness, attentiveness, and loving care.
Ms. Harris was cremated and had asked to have her ashes dispersed in the Pacific Ocean. We ask that you celebrate her life personally by living each day with joy and curiosity. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her name to the ETV Public Television Endowment Fund.
We know that Lillie Mattie Harris, the “wonder” and “treasure”, will be missed by all whom she touched in her very special way.