Mother Ada Harris

“I don’t need anything because God has given me all I need”
With many of her loved ones around her, praying, singing and praising the Lord, Mother Ada took hold of God’s hand and transitioned to her heavenly home.

Ada was born February 10, 1931 to the late Cassie Mason Wright and Willie Wingfield. Ada was the fourth of five children who preceded her in death. Ada attended old Balty School which she told us many times how they walked to school through the snow, gathered wood and made fire in an old wood stove and paid a penny for a hot cup of cocoa. She completed all nine grades, the highest at the time.

Ada was baptized at a young age and joined St John Baptist Church. In her late teens she married the late Rinzy Harris Sr. The late S.H Carter helped Ada get a job in Richmond working for the Jarvis family. She would go in on Monday morning and return on Friday evening. After many months her husband wanted her to quit and she became a full-time wife. Ada did several jobs to help her young family such as picking vegetables and caregiving for her family members. She also like building around the house. She would always have a hammer and nails fixing the porch and roof. She ended up with the nickname “Jim Walters”

Ada joined Mt Tabor Baptist Church where she was a faithful member joining the Senior Chorus and president of the Missionary Ministry. But the proudest moment to her was when she became the “Mother of the Church” which fitted her personality completely. Ada “adopted” everyone. Her daughter Arethia compared her to a mother hen. How when young chicks lose their mother, other hens would lift their wings and gather them under her. just like Ada and the other mothers of “The Ville”,. she would extend her arms and gather “sisters” and “brothers” for her 3 children. You knew you were one of her children when she call you one of her “girls” (don’t worry fellows – you would call y’all son) But her favorite pastime was fishing. With her fishing buddies Ms. Alice, Ms. Rozell Ms. Gracie or Ms. Annie, you would find them on the ponds or river banks starting early morning and coming home in evenings. Ada would say if they are big enough to bite they are big enough to eat and in the bucket they would go.

Mother Ada was the head of the family, out living both her family and her in-laws watching over us till the end. Mother Ada leaves to cherish her wonderful memory her two devoted children (son Rinzy Jr preceded her in death) — Arethia and Rodney(Roxanne) — 6 grandchildren -TaShauna (NikkI), Elderick(Derick)(Dela), Tamekia, Tahlia, Rodney Jr and Isaiah and 8 great-grandkids — Roshun, Anthony(Trey), Mikal, Xavier, Deyon, Trinity, Treavon and Marcus.– caregiver/daughter Theresa Turner — a host of nieces, nephews (and here is the math in me) great nieces and nephews to the 4th power and cousins and extended family she took under her wings.