Extracted from The Daily Leader (Brookhaven, MS)
Friday, April 21, 2006

Marilyn Perkins Harris

Marilyn Perkins Harris, 74, died Wednesday, April 19, 2006, at the Jackson Baptist Hospital. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Brookhaven, with the Memorial Service following at noon and afterwards internment at the Rosehill Cemetery. Riverwood Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Marilyn Harris was born March 15, 1932, in Brookhaven, the daughter of Thomas H. and Clara Whittington Perkins. She married James W. Harris in February 1951.

Marilyn was very active in the arts community. Her interest in art began during her college years at Belmont College and the University of Mississippi. Later she studied under master artists throughout the nation and attended numerous workshops in Mexico, including Mississippi's Marie Hull,

While living in Jackson, she became involved in the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA). She also became the first president of the MMA Auxiliary, served as intern-director from 1974 to 1985, and was voted MMA's 1984 Volunteer of the Year. Additionally, she was the buyer for the MMA gift shop and served as its manager in 1980. Marilyn and her husband, James, were charter members of the Rembrandt Society (major donors for the MMA). She also served as president of the MMA Gallery Guild from 1990 to 1991.

Marilyn was active in Northminister Baptist Church, Riverhills Country Club, Jackson Country Club, and The LeFleur Garden Club while she lived in Jackson.

After her husband died in 1993, Marilyn returned to Brookhaven. She then opened an antiques business, Marilyn P. Harris Interiors, and hosted numerous art shows for local and statewide artists.

She was active in the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Arts Council of the Brookhaven Trust, the Climbers Club and the Wildwood Garden Club. She was a founding Board Director for the Mississippi School of the Arts in Brookhaven and a charter member in its creation.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Hayes Perkins and Clara Whittington Perkins; her husband, James W. Harris; her sister, Hortense Perkins Prater; and her brother, Thomas Perkins III.

Marilyn is survived by her sons, James Harris, of Houston, Texas, Stephen Harris, of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Michael Harris, of Brookhaven; her brother, William Perkins, of Brookhaven; and four granddaughters, Kristin Harris, Lauren Harris, Stephanie Harris and Chloe Harris.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Brookhaven Episcopal Church of the Redeemer or the Mississippi School of the Arts, Mary P. Harris Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 229, Brookhaven, MS 39602.