"The Man"

Mr. Joe L. Harris completed his Masters Degree in Science of Embalming in 1964 and became a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. In his 65+ years of funeral service, Mr. Harris has been an Anatomical Embalmer for The University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Dallas, TX. He has helped train, nurture and develop some of the leading names in the funeral industry today. Our General was both Texas and Oklahoma licensed. Joe served two (2) consecutive five (5) year terms as President of The State of Oklahoma Funeral Board and was the first African American to occupy a seat on that board and serve as President. During his term, Joe was delighted to have signed the Official Funeral Director and Embalmers License of his beautiful Wife, Audrey.

In 1986, Joe found himself in a small town 70 miles outside of Oklahoma City named Lawton, OK. At that time, Owner Mr. Clarence Miller took a love and liking to Joe and after Mr. Miller’s death, Joe resumed the role of Funeral Director and Embalmer of Miller’s Mortuary. Shortly after that, Mr. Harris assumed more responsibility of Miller’s Mortuary as owner and began a new venture in the new state and town he was in. In 1998, Joe and his lovely wife Audrey decided that it was time to have a funeral home of their own, together and in the City they

 lived in. So September 1998, Howard-Harris Funeral Services emerged. The two worked every single day in Lawton and now in Oklahoma City to provide families with affordable services with Professionalism and Distinction. In 2002, a tragic fire occurred and caused Miller’s Mortuary to be demolished. Joe and Audrey did not lose faith, they just knew now was the time to start fresh---One Funeral Home, Two Locations. Since then, Howard-Harris Funeral Services OKC and LAWTON is one of the most sought after Funeral Homes in the Country, who have served thousands of families including several Celebrities. The work and service of Joe and Audrey’s love through Howard- Harris Funeral Services have been seen on Several Major

Networks, BET, MTV, VH1, TVONE, TMZ, CNN and ABC; publications such as JET, EBONY, HipHop The Source and so many others.

Joe was a Youth Career Counselor, encouraging young people to seek the Funeral Service and Insurance Industries for a career. Through the Rev. Moses Howard, Sr. Scholarship Fund, Howard-Harris Funeral Services in both Lawton and Oklahoma City have provided thousands of dollars in financial support to individual schools, public and private schools and Universities.

On Sunday, November 21, 2021, Joe’s phone rung and this was a “Death Call” that only he could take. God called Joe Louis Harris and when he answered this “Death Call”, his Master, Lord & Savior Jesus Christ was on the other end and said “SERVANT, WELL DONE”. God showed us the final Miracle as Mr. Harris peacefully slipped out of his earthly body into his eternal rest.

He is proceeded in death by both parents, six siblings: James Harris, Johnell “Olivia” Ludd, Doris Mitchell, Ruby Means, Charlie Harris and Classie Owens. Mr. Harris leaves to cherish his memory and fulfill his charge: his loving wife of 35 years Mrs. Audrey Y. Howard-Harris, one daughter Jo’Landa Y. Harris, one grandson “GrandPawsMan” who was the joy of his life and namesake, Jo’Urdan JoeShawn Harris all of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; one son Anthony Harris of Dallas, Texas, three grandchildren, nineteen great-grand children and sixteen great-grand children; one sister, his heart Lizzie Milton of Dallas, Texas; one brother, his partner in crime Tommie Lee Harris (Rachel) of Dallas, Texas. He also leaves to cherish his memory his right-hand-man, Joe Frazier who was there until the very end, two special God- Daughters who flew in to be right by his bedside, Anitra Thomas (Courtingham) and LaNeka Sawyer, his niece who was there with him till the end, Rochell Braimer (Delton); his Son and Mentee Dedrick Jennings (Chandra), God-Children, Rochon Dean, Annette Thomas, Sharlen Carter, LaQuitta Carter, Danielle Williams, Ashley Huling, Aloyce Thomas, Dachondra Dean, Dalisa Dean, Cersten Carter, Ellsworth Huling, V., Daylon “DaylonBob” Dean, Richard “Tigger” Harland, VaShawn Mitchell, B.Chase Williams, Donte McCutchen and Montrae Tisdale-Johnson.; three special sisters Linda and Brenda Davis, Maxcine J. Watson; special God-Mother Mrs. Eulila Davis, best friend Mr. George Hues, and host of nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.