Emily Harris (5-9-11)

WINTERVILLE - Emily Coile Harris, born on March 27, 1918, in her home in Winterville, and died in that same home on May 9, 2011.

She was the daughter of the late William Rutherford and Laura Pittard Coile. The W.R. Coile Middle School bears the name of her late father, who served as Superintendent of the Clarke County Schools for 27 years. She was the granddaughter of the late John T. and Mary Ida Barnett Pittard and Rev. William and Mary Emma Eberhart Coile. In addition, she was preceded in death by her husband, L.H. Harris Jr.; grandson, W. Howard Harris; sister, Mary Ida Coile Weeks; and brother, W.R. Billy Coile Jr. She attended the Winterville Public Schools and graduated from Winterville High School in 1935. She was a third generation graduate of the University of Georgia, with a Home Economics degree in 1943. She continued her education at the University of Georgia with a master's degree in Education and a Sixth Year Educational Specialist degree. She taught 31 years in the Clarke County School District, in the Winterville, Princeton, and Chase Street Elementary Schools. She served two terms on the Winterville City Council, conceived the idea for a city park (now bearing the name Pittard Park) in Winterville in 1949, and was instrumental in the development of it. She was a charter member of the Fidelis Nu Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Teachers Organization, a member of the Winterville Silver Hair Club, the WWs Club, and the Ladies Garden Club. She was also a member of the Winterville Baptist Church, where she was baptized in 1928.

Survivors include sons, William H. (Grace) Harris and Ronald T. Harris, both of Winterville, and Rutherford C. Rullie Harris, state of Washington; grandchildren, William Bill (Debbie) Harris, Winterville, and Anna Harris and Ford Harris, of the state of Washington; great-grandchildren, William Buck Harris and Jacob Jake Harris, Winterville, and Caden Harris, of the state of Washington; and sisters-in-law, Sara Harris Fitzgerald and Margaret Coile.

Graveside services were held Thursday, May 12, at the Winterville Cemetery, with the Revs. Morris Sapp, Ray Finger, and Walter McGuire officiating, and Mr. Ron Mize as musician.

Special thanks are to be given to Orlanda Lester for six years of loyal and loving care, and to Willie Ruth Allen.

Memorial contributions may be made to the William Marion & William Rutherford Coile Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 177, Winterville, GA 30683, or the Winterville Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 158, Winterville, GA 30683.

Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, Athens, was in charge of arrangements.