Johnny Harris

Johnny Harris was born on January 14, 1945, at Johns Hopkins Hospital to Claude Harris and Constance Harris (Mitchell). He attended #130 Elementary located at Bond & Chase Streets. He later attended Knox High School, but left Knox and entered Dunbar High School from which he later graduated in 1965. He worked at the shipyard in Fairfield, MD. He spent two years in the Army stationed in Korea with positions of Quarter Master, mechanic and truck driver. He returned home after serving his Country. Upon entering back into the workforce, he returned to the shipyard and retained his employment for 17 years before the yard closed. Johnny went on to become a private contractor and entrepreneur working on various projects for people in his community. Johnny had one biological son, Johnny Harris, Jr. He was also instrumental in helping to raise children with Rodelle Bentley.

Johnny was an avid sports fan as he says, “all East Baltimore men are.” Johnny was raised in the nine hundred block of Chapel Street and the family later moved to Edmondson Village where he continued his move towards manhood. Wherever he lived, the first thing he wanted to know was where’s the closest pool hall and are the tables any good. He loved shooting pool.

Johnny was a very serious and meticulous individual. He shared precious moments and memories with his eastside buddies. Some would travel from all around Baltimore to meet up, play cards, listen to music, and just enjoy each other’s company.

During the last five years of Johnny’s life, he suffered various medical problems and finally succumbed to lung cancer at the Gilcrest Hospice Center in Maryland.

He is preceded in death by his father, mother and his three siblings, Tyrone, Celestine, and Edward. He leaves to mourn one son, Johnny, Jr., a grandson, a granddaughter, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other family and friends and one true love, Rodelle.