Martha Jane Nelson Harris of Martinsville died November 10, 2016 in Memorial Hospital of Martinsville with complications from pneumonia.
She was born in Spencer on March 17, 1931 to Willie Everitt Nelson and Mollie Jane Tudor Nelson.
A 1949 graduate of Hardin Reynolds Memorial High School in Critz, and a 1951 graduate of Perry Business School in Martinsville, she retired from Patrick Henry Community College in 1996 with 24 years service as secretary to the president.
She married the love of her life, Otha Morton Harris Sr. on December 31, 1953, and they enjoyed over 51 years together until his death in 2005.
She was a long-time member of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, Martinsville, where she had served as part-time secretary, chairman of the worship committee, historian, and was an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband; a son, Timothy Edwin Harris; a brother, Wallace Jay Nelson Sr. and wife Helen; brother-in-law, William C. Patterson; and sister-in-law, Charlotte Turner Nelson.
Survivors include a daughter, Kerrie Lynne Harris Scheetz and husband Jonathan D. Scheetz II of Chesapeake; son, Dr. O. Morton Harris Jr. and wife Dr. Sue Lowcock Harris, of Columbia, Md.; daughter-in-law, Susanna Rose Harris of Dayton, Oh.; a special daughter-in-law, Doris A. Harris of Norfolk; grandchildren, Kelley Leanne Harris and C. Matthew Harris of Norfolk, and David O. Scheetz and wife Katherine Byers Scheetz, and great-grandson Talon Scheetz of Chesapeake; and special friends, Donnie and Dianne Eanes, Winston and Sarah Whitmore, and Natalie Harris.
Also surviving are a sister, Annie Hazel Patterson of Hampton; brother, Billy Jeff Nelson of Spencer; three nieces, Jane Nelson Shuart and husband Mark; Cathy Patterson Beaulieu and husband Bruce of Hampton; and Julie Patterson Boswell and husband Marshall of Ivor; two nephews, Wallace J. Nelson Jr. and wife Heather of Blacksburg, and B.J. Nelson Jr. and wife Kim of Elkin, N.C.; great-nieces, Amy Shuart, Emily Shuart, Kristi Nelson, Crandall Turner, Kathryn Nelson, Afton Nelson and Larkyn Nelson; and great-nephews, Bryan Boswell and Jay Nelson.
Visitation with the family will be today (Wednesday) from 4 to 6 p.m. at McKee-Stone Funeral Home, Martinsville. The memorial service is Thursday, November 17, at 1 p.m., Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, Martinsville. Burial will follow at Old Well Christian Church Cemetery, Spencer. The Reverend Robert Button, interim pastor of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, will officiate.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Old Well Christian Church Cemetery Fund (110 Old Well Road, P.O. Box 163, Spencer VA 24165), or Forest Hills Presbyterian Church (725 Beechnut Lane, Martinsville VA 24112), or the S.P.C.A. of Martinsville and Henry County (132 Joseph Martin Highway, Martinsville VA 24112).
To express condolences online, please visit www.collinsmckeestonemartinsville.com.
