Susie "Sue" N. Harris

Susie “Sue” N. Wright Harris, of Bessemer, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2019, at age 85. She was born December 16, 1933, during the Depression to Eddie Lee and Allie Mae Wright. She was the first born of four children. Sue and her brother, J.C., survived those years, and had a happy childhood. Following the depression, she gained two more siblings, Mary and Peggy. While growing up, she loved spending time with her cousins at Grandma and Grandpa Wright’s house.  She loved going to the family reunions and seeing all of the aunts, uncles and cousins who were always there. She continued attending all the family reunions every year up to the present.

She loved going to school & loved her friends there. She & her friends would pool their money together to buy gas for the one friend who had a car. During High School, she worked at S.H. Kress “Five & Dime” in Bessemer. In later years, she loved going to her high school class reunions to see her old friends and she attended the reunions regularly.

When she was sixteen, she was surprised with a “special” gift, no not a car, A BABY SISTER.

When she graduated from McAdory High School, she got married and moved to Chicago where she lived and worked for 25 years. During those years, they were blessed with a son and daughter, Michael & 9 years later Janie Sue completing their family. Everyone loved going to her house in Chicago, she always cooked delicious meals that you could smell the moment they opened the door.  She was one who followed the recipe to the T.  Her meals were always a real treat, everyone loved them.  Another highlight of going to Chicago would be, carrying us to Chinatown in Downtown Chicago to eat and to the shops.  That is a memory that remains in everyone’s minds.

She loved making memories with her grandchildren especially when they all would spend the night at her home.  The window plaque in her dining room stating “What happens at grandmas stays at grandmas” would open up many fun conversations. She was excited to become a great grandma when Elijah James was born in December of 2014 and when blessed in August of 2016 with Charlotte Marie. Sadly her health would not allow her the time she wished for with her great grandchildren.

She moved back to Alabama in the late 70’s & lived here until her death. She began working at the Better Business Bureau in the 80’s and she finished her career there at the age of 79. She held various job titles and when she retired she was the Vice President, handling financial matters and the operations. She made many friends while working there and she loved her job. Every day was a new challenge to her and she loved it.  She always tried to find the bright side of a bad situation.

She loved pretty clothes and shoes. She was always dressed up, hair fixed and make-up on when leaving her house, even the evening she went to the ER, she wanted to look good. She was a “Pro at shopping”, some nights she would “shop until she dropped”. She had a flair for matching clothes & accessories, always looking beautiful.  She also loved shopping for her family & her home.  She was very good at decorating her home & the office.

Sue was preceded in death by her husband, James Frank Harris; father and mother, Eddie Lee Wright and Allie Mae Smitherman-Wright; sister, Mary Lee Thrasher; and son-in-law, Philip Scott Akins.

Sue is survived by her son, Michael James Harris (Jamie Marie Wynn Harris); daughter, Janie Sue Harris Akins; grandchildren, Amanda “Mandy” Nikol Harris, Michael Edward Harris, Matthew Scott Akins, and Dylan Philip Scott Akins; great grandchildren, Elijah James Meador and Charlotte Marie Meador; brother, J.C. Wright; and sister, Peggy Harris Garrett (Jerry Garrett).

She will truly be missed by everyone, especially her beloved Mr. Wang, her Burmese cat.

The family will receive friends on Friday, May 24, 2019, from 10-11 AM at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home. The service will follow in the chapel at 11 AM. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Gardens, South.