At its April 8 meeting, Salem City Council members officially congratulated one of Salem's true treasures, Gertrude Harris, on reaching her 100th birthday. Mrs. Harris was honored with a proclamation that retroactively made her birthday, February 14, "Gertrude Harris Day" in the city. Among other things, Mrs. Harris received a standing ovation from those in attendance who were overwhelmed by her list of accomplishments. Please take a moment to review the proclamation which can be found below.
P R O C L A M A T I O N
WHEREAS, Gertrude W. Harris, the youngest of five children, was born on February 14, 1924, in South Boston, Virginia, to Elisha and Lucille Stamps Williams; and thereafter relocated to 50 Barton Street in Martinsville, Virginia, accepted Christ at an early age and attended Grace Presbyterian Church; she graduated from high school in Martinsville and matriculated to Virginia State College in Petersburg, Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Williams married the late John W. Harris, and moved to Salem. Virginia where she has resided for the past eighty-two years. From her union with John Harris, are two sons, Jonathan T, and E. Wayne; she is the grandmother of three grandsons, Dwayne Anthony “Tony” Bowles, Anthony Michael Harris, and Jeffrey Tyronne Harris, and three great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Harris began working in the early 50’s, with her best friend, Mrs. Laura Peery, who started the first kindergarten for Black children in Salem, Virginia; Mrs. Harris worked for the Salem, Virginia Parks and Recreation Department, was Director of the T. N. Williams Recreation Center and was Designer and Founder of the Salem Senior Citizens Center. Following her retirement in 1987, the City of Salem recognized her leadership and commitment by naming the Salem Senior Citizens Center Activities Hall, The Gertrude W. Harris Activities Center; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Harris is a life member of Bethel AME Church in Salem, Virginia and Cave Spring, Virginia where she served as the church Organist, Pianist and Choir Director for fifty years; and was actively involved in many Church and Community organizations and activities. She is a life member of Church Women United, has participated as the Pianist and Choir Director as well as the parliamentarian; She received the 1995 “Woman of Distinction” award from the Virginia Skyline Girl Scout Council; Good Human Relations Award from the Salem Branch NAACP in 1987; Recognized by the Roanoke YWCA President’s Award for her leadership and service as President and member of the Board; was given the Community Involvement Award presented by the Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. May 1986; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Harris celebrated her landmark 100th birthday with her family and caregivers on Wednesday, February 14, at the home of her son, E. Wayne Harris in celebration of her 100th birthday; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RENÉE FERRIS TURK, Mayor of the City of Salem, Commonwealth of Virginia, in honor of the 100th Anniversary of her birth, do hereby proclaim February 14, 2024, as GERTRUDE W. HARRIS DAY
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Salem to be affixed this the fourteenth day of February in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Renée Ferris Turk
Jim Wallace
H. Hunter Holliday
Bill Jones
Randy Foley