Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 5-15-18

Feature
Popular Community Photographer Dies After Brief Bout With Cancer
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
A popular community photogra- pher died Friday evening at his home after a brief bout with cancer. Sylvester Harris was 67 years old, having celebrated his birthday in March.
Mrs. Rose Harris says she had gotten her husband home from the hospital about an hour prior to his passing at 10:50 p. m. “We wanted to get him home and we did,” Mrs. Harris said.
Known to his family and close friends as “Sug,” Harris graduated from Middleton High School with the class of 1969. He played drums in the high school band.
His parents owned the popular ‘Harris Store’ just a short distance from Middleton that students fre- quented.
Harris took classes to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
SYLVESTER ‘SUG’ HARRIS AND HIS WIFE, MRS. ROSE HARRIS ...Popular Photographer
He served in that profession for 25 years, while connected with several companies, before going into private duty. At the time of his death, Har-
ris was on disability, having been in- volved in an accident that limited his duties as a CNA.
Mrs. Harris described her hus- band of 35 years as “a loving, kind, God-fearing, family man and en- courager everywhere he went. I loved my husband and was with him all the way through this.”
Harris loved his high school and was involved in many of its activi- ties, since his graduation. If there were photos to be taken for any of the school’s functions, or any other alumni classes events, Harris would make sure he was available.
When asked how her husband got his interest in photography, Mrs. Harris chuckled. “I guess that’s my fault. I’m retired from GTE/Verizon after 34 years. While I worked, there was a store where you could shop for different items. At one time I bought him a camcorder and a camera. He started recording our church services (at Glorious
COGIC), and things escalated from there. He loved it and enjoyed it and people enjoyed his work. Even since he’s been sick, there have been calls and texts for him to do work,” she explained. Harris titled his photog- raphy business “Treasured Mo- ments.”
Currently, the Harrises are members of HOPE (House of Prayer of Eternal) Ministry, where Harris’ brother, Aaron Harris is the Pas- tor and Sommer Harris is the Co- Pastor. Harris was ordained an Elder since being there the past 5 years.
Harris was the father of 3 – Kimberly Thornton, Isaiah (30) and Quentin (25).
Harris was a freelance photo- grapher for the Sentinel for several years.
Funeral arrangements are in- complete at this time, however, Aikens Funeral Home will be in charge of the services.
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