Today is the 85th birthday of William Bryant Harris W.B. Harris was born in Angelina Co. TX in the community of Belview on September 15, 1929. He was the third child born to Chester Isaac Harris (b1901 d1984) and Delia Belle Havard Harris (b1906 d1929). He was born at his home and was delivered by his maternal grandfather, Charlie James Havard. Mr. Havard wrapped the umbilical cord around Delia’s leg until the Dr. could get there from Manning. Delia wanted to call him William Jennings Bryant after the famous poet but Grandpa Havard said that was too big a name for such a little thing so he was named William Bryant. When he was 3 months old his mother Delia died from pneumonia at the age of 23. She died in the arms of her brother-in-law Jack Harris after speaking to the older boys, Van and Arland. She told them goodbye and asked for the baby. (W.B.) Her sister-in-law, Omega Havard laid the baby next to her and she nuzzled him and asked Omega to look after him. “Well, Miga, I guess you and Charlie will have to take him”. And with that she took her last breath. That is how W.B. came to be raised by Charlie Cason Havard and Alpha Omega Morris Havard. They were his biological aunt and uncle but were always considered his parents. Omega once said, “Bryant is as much mine as Ruth. Not mine by birth but he’s mine by limitations”. (Ruth was the only biological child of Charlie and Omega.) Bryant’s brother Van was raised by their Aunt Minnie and Uncle Southwell Havard and Arland was raised by their maternal grandparents Charlie James and Sarah Cordelia Havard. (aka Grandpa & Granny Deed) Their father Chester Isaac Harris later went on to marry Ester Leola Page in 1934 and they had one daughter, Frances DeLois Harris. W.B. attended school in Zavalla and was a well known basketball player. He either walked or rode horses to school and back until the bus started running a route down to the Havard farm. He finished the 10th grade and left to go into the Army. When Bryant was 16 he ran off with some of his older friends to join the Army. He didn’t tell his father or mother but the recruiter suspected he was underage and paid a visit with Charlie. Mr. Havard told him, “If he thinks he’s big enough then it’s okay with me.” The recruiter got Mr. Havard to sign a permission slip without letting Bryant know about it. After a few days of basic training, Bryant was ready to go home and thought he’d spring his surprise on the drill sergeant that he was underage. The Sgt. told him too bad, your daddy figured if you were big enough to run off and sign up that he wouldn’t stop you so he signed us a permission slip. “You belong to the U.S. Army now.” Bryant was a PFC in the Army the required 18months (1947-1948) and in that time traveled from Fort Ord in California for basic training to Camp Kilmer in New Jersey working as a truck driver and a baggage man. During his last six months he worked an Honor Guard detail that escorted dead soldiers to their final resting places. They drilled for hours in order to perfect the 21 gun salute and the folding and presentation of the flag for fallen soldiers in World War II. Upon his discharge he returned to East Texas. He still remembers his serial number which was 18306264. Under the G.I. Bill he attended Houston Technical College for a six months course to learn Railway Telegraphy Station Agency. He began working for Southern Pacific Railroad in 1949 and retired 37 years later. During that time he worked in Houston, Galveston, Beaumont, Zavalla and Lufkin Depots. On June 1, 1948 W.B. married Opal Lee Miller (while on a furlough), daughter of John Lee Miller and Vina Viola King Miller. She was 15 but had just graduated Zavalla High School with honors. They made their home near Bryant’s parents and sister Ruth. During this time, Opal had the first of six children. Jerry Lynn was born in 1949, Janis Ann in 1952 and then came twin boys! Charlie Raymond and Chester Damon were born in 1956. Juanita Elaine was born in 1962 and JoVina in 1964. With two children in Jr. High, two in elementary and two in diapers, Opal attended Lamar University in Beaumont and managed to graduate in 1965 with a BS degree in elementary education and a minor in music in three years. They decided to form a family singing group and the “Singing Harris Family” was known all over East Texas from 1960-1990. They were a family who sang gospel music in the traditional shape-note, four part harmony style at churches and singing conventions called “all day singings”. W.B. went on to get his G.E.D. and received an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice in 2009 from Angelina College in Lufkin, TX. He has numerous hours of training as a Texas Peace Officer/Law Enforcement Officer working at various agencies in Angelina County. He has achieved the highest level of certification in law enforcement – Master Peace Officer.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 11:58:35 +0000
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