Magdalene "Maggie" Shears-Harris

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want...Psalms 23 Magdalene "Maggie" Shears-Harris enter into this world as a gift from God on August 31, 1932 in Mt. Holly, Arkansas, the daughter of Dock and Girtha Phillips-Shears where two siblings anxiously awaited her arrival, Phillip Banks and Carolyn Francis Shears. Magdalene was welcome by her siblings with much joy. Sister Maggie committed her life to Christ at the New Hope Baptist Church at a young age. She served there faithfully for many years. She later united with the First Baptist Church-Cordell, El Dorado, Arkansas. She was a proud member of the popular gospel group. The Stars of Hope. She also was an Eastern Star for many years. She later united with Greater Paradise Missionary Baptist Church where she was Missionary Society President for seventeen years, worked in the Youth Department, NBC Director, a member of the Council of Christian Education, Decorating Committee Chairperson and worked in the kitchen. She served as Mission President for the Ouachita District Section 1-Mission. She also worked in the District wherever there was a need for service. She also loved speaking to the young generation about turning their life over to Christ. These accomplishments are not mentioned to boast, but to show there is still work to the done in the house of the Lord. From the very beginning, she dedicated her children to God and encouraged them to explore the beauty of the gospels. She taught them to not only believe in Christ, but to love one another as Christ loved us. Although she strongly believed that nothing came before Christ, she believed in her family. Maggie taught her children to believe in Christ and to love, care and protect each other. She strongly believe that family was everything and nothing came before Christ and family. Sister Maggie attended school in the Mount Holly School District at New Hope School. She loved to be outdoors, where she could do gardening, work with flowers and go fishing. She also was a cook from her heart. The neighborhood was welcomed at her home for a meal anytime. She worked for many years for Mrs. C.H. Murphy, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Shackelford. So you see why this old building had many leaks. Sister Maggie was preceded in death by her grandparents, Frank and Ella Gill Phillips, her parents, Dock and Girtha Shears-Phillips, her husband Johnnie Lee Harris, her brother Phillip Banks, a sister Carolyn Francis Shears and a daughter Linda Kay Harris-Brazle, five grandchildren, Eric and Mona Cain, Kawan Lowery, Eric Williams and Dedrick Williams and a step daughter Janice Harris-Jefferson. Sister Maggie leaves to cherish her precious memories several loving and devoted daughters, Laura Nell Johnson, Elnora Harris and her husband Charlie, Mary Jean Johnson and her husband, Eddie James, La Shaa Montgomery and her husband Roy, Girtha Loretta Whatley and her husband, Tommy Lee all of El Dorado, Arkansas; Toni Bridget Perry and her husband David of Mayflower, Arkansas and Phoebe Odessa Gatson of Manassas, Virginia; two loving sons, Nathan Rainey and John Michael Harris both of El Dorado, Arkansas; one step daughter, Betty Harris- Tucker and her husband Larom of Monticello, Arkansas; 22 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren; 7 step-grandchildren, 19 step-great-grandchildren and 4 step great-great-grandchildren; a host of nephews, nieces and other relatives and friends who will miss her smiling face and her witnessing to them daily. Homegoing services for Ms. Maggie will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Greater Paradise Missionary Baptist Church, 729 Marsh Avenue, El Dorado, AR with Rev. J.C. Phillips officiating. Interment will follow in the New Hope Cemetery, Mt. Holly, Arkansas under the direction of the Sims Mortuary Staff. Visitation at the funeral home will be Friday, March 27, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A family hour will be Friday, March 27 from 5-6 p.m. at Greater Paradise Missionary Baptist Church, 729 Marsh Ave. El Dorado, AR. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Magdalene "Maggie" Shears-Harris, please visit our flower store.