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Mrs. Mary Wall Harris, age 84 years, of Jefferson City, MO, died Friday, September 30, 2016 at Heisinger Bluffs.

Mary was born July 23, 1932 in Neelyville, MO the daughter of Edward E. and Lula M. Johnson Wall. She was married on August 8, 1951 in Neelyville, MO to Elmer L. Harris, Jr. who preceded her in death on May 24, 1997.

A life-long resident of the Jefferson City area, Mary graduated from Wheatley High School in Poplar Bluff, MO. She was a 1952 graduate of Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. She completed her Master of Science degree in Mathematics at the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1966, and was awarded the Juris Doctorate in 1982 by the University of Missouri School of Law.

Mary was employed with Lincoln University as a member of the faculty. She retired in 1996, as Associate Professor and University Counsel, after thirty-nine years with Lincoln University. After retirement, she was awarded Professor Emeritus status at Lincoln University.

She was a member of Quinn Chapel AME Church and a golden member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Other professional membership affiliations include the Lincoln University Alumni Association; Missouri Bar Association; Cole County Bar Association; National Association of College and University Attorneys; Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity; and Association of Retired Missouri State Employees.

While an assistant professor at Lincoln University, Mary was nominated for biographical inclusion in the 1973 edition of the Dictionary of International Biography. This publication listed 20,000 biographies of men and women of achievement throughout the world, and was circulated in 137 nations. She was elected Missouri regional representative for the National Association of Mathematicians at a joint meeting with the American Mathematical Society and the National Council of Teachers, which was held in Dallas, TX in 1973. She also served as the treasurer of the Lincoln University Alumni Association from 1969 to 1979.

Mary was an avid bridge player who enjoyed traveling and listening to gospel, jazz, and soul music. Most importantly, she loved spending time with her family and nurturing her faith in God.

Survivors include two daughters, Ann Elizabeth Harris of Jefferson City, MO and Mary H. Green-Lee and her husband Charles Lee of Houston, TX; one brother, Edward E. Wall, Jr., Dixmoor, IL; three grandchildren, Angela Michelle Aggison of Brooklyn, NY; Rashid Talon Harris, Moody AFB, Valdosta, GA; and Gary Francis Green, II and his wife Monica of Ft. Worth, TX; one great grandchild, Ella Marie Green of Ft. Worth, TX; one daughter-in-law, Carol Lloyd of Atlanta, GA; and one brother in law, Chester Jones of West Orange, NJ; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mrs. Harris was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and two sons, Richard Lawton Harris and Randall Harris; three brothers and their wives, Ira W. and Mercedes Wall, Calvin O. and Charlotte Wall and Isaac J. and Arline Wall; three sisters and two of their husbands, Vivian and Robert Mitchell, Wylda and Godfrey Amachree, and Norma Jones.

Visitation will be at Freeman Mortuary from 6:00 until 8:00 pm Sunday, October 9, 2016 with an Ivies Beyond the Wall Service under the auspices of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority to be conducted at 5:30 pm in the Freeman Chapel.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am Monday, October 10, 2016 at the Quinn Chapel AME Church with the Reverend Cassandra Gould officiating. Private graveside services and interment will be conducted at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery, Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association or Quinn Chapel AME Church.

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