Hugh Harris

Hugh Harold Harris, 94, of Eatonton, Georgia, passed away on May 4, 2025, surrounded by loving family. Mr. Harris was born July 8, 1930 in San Antonio, Texas, son of Hugh Bascom Harris and Jess Lee Pulliam. Mr. Harris graduated in 1948 from Brackenridge High School, where he met and fell head-over-heels in love with his lifelong sweetheart, Mary Lou Eldridge. They married on July 15, 1950 at the chapel at Randolph Air Force Base near San Antonio. Mr. Harris started work that same year as a floor sweeper at a new Nabisco plant in Houston. In 1952 he was drafted into the Army and spent 11 months in Korea during the war there. It was a challenging start for the young couple, but they always told each other, “It’s you and me against the world” and the world didn’t stand a chance. Mr. Harris resumed his Nabisco career upon returning home and began a steady climb to top positions including director of operations at the bakery company’s world headquarters, as well as manager of its Atlanta plant. Although his life was filled with many achievements, Mr. Harris regarded his most meaningful accomplishments to be his nearly 75-year marriage to Mary Lou and the close-knit family they created together. Their unchanging values of mutual respect, faithfulness, kindness, and caring saw them through every joy and hardship, and they passed on these values to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mr. Harris’s strong work ethic, boyish charm, and personable ways endeared him to everyone he met. He was so well loved that his Nabisco colleagues and friends threw him a one-of-a-kind retirement party in1985 aboard the paddlewheel boat at Stone Mountain Park. In retirement, he and Mrs. Harris moved to their dream place they called “Happy ‘Ours” on Lake Sinclair. It began as a wooded lot, but after several years and countless fun family workdays, it was transformed into an idyllic home they enjoyed together for decades. Mr. Harris was a passionate amateur gardener and turned the lakefront lot into a jewel filled with flowering azaleas and dogwood trees, with a long winding driveway lined with colorful birdhouses. “Happy ‘Ours” also became the setting for another of Mr. Harris’s passions — planning and hosting countless family gatherings, from summer boating weekends to holiday celebrations. All of his grandchildren have happy memories of Mr. Harris ringing the dinner bell amid a long day of recreation. Another passion was watching and attending University of Georgia football games. Although he did not attend UGA, Mr. Harris was a longtime season ticket holder and attended games for nearly three decades with his son Daryl, a graduate. Mr. Harris also enjoyed the many enduring friendships he had with people at his beloved Lake Country Baptist Church. He volunteered on many projects, served as an usher, and enjoyed meeting a group of close friends every Thursday for breakfast at Huddle House or Waffle House. Mr. Harris was preceded in death by his cherished son-in-law James Mark Baxter. Survivors include his wife Mary Lou; daughters Sandra Baxter of Eatonton and Karen (Scott) Thurston of San Diego; son Daryl (Angela) Harris of Woodstock; half-sisters Pam (Ray) Deters of Penney Farms, FL, and Jeanette Ricks of Kerrville, Texas; grandchildren Laura (Anthony) DiStephano of Peachtree City, Brian (Emily) Johnson of Peachtree City, Mark (Keri) Johnson of Peachtree City, Stephen (Emily) Thurston of San Diego, Kevin Thurston of Dallas, Texas, and Kendra (Seth) Cannon of Bentonville Ark.; and 10 great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, May 24, at 2:00 pm with a visitation hour from 1:00 to 2:00 at Lake Country Baptist Church at 1259 Crooked Creek Rd, Eatonton, GA 31024. In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Mr. Harris may be made to Lake Country Baptist Church or to a charity of your choice.

Hugh Harris

July 8, 1930 - May 4, 2025