MR. JOSEPH E. (PHIL) HARRIS

Mr. Joseph E. (Phil) Harris, age 87, passed away on Monday, November 28, 2016. Funeral services will be held at Valley Grove Baptist Church on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 2:00 PM. Dr. David Chancey, Rev. Travis Graham and Rev. Joe Allen will officiate and burial will follow in the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Wednesday at Valley Grove Baptist Church from 1:00 PM until the funeral hour.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Doris Vining Harris; two sons Chris (Cheryl) Harris of Lawrenceville and Todd (Donna) Harris of Pine Harbor; two daughters, Debbie (Mike) Varner of Oviedo, FL and Dee (Gilbert) Chapa of Belton, TX; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Antio Gordy of Warner Robins and Gladys Chancey of Milledgeville. He was preceded in death by his parents, Flournoy and Bertha Harris. 
Mr. Harris grew up in Upson County and attended John B. Gordon and R. E. Lee Schools. He worked in the Martha Mill for two years before joining the Army in January 1949. After basic training he attended Southeastern Signal School where he learned to splice telephone cable. After he was discharged he worked for the Thomaston Telephone Company until being called back in the service. He was sent to Korea where his wire team provided communications to the artillery units that supported the infantry.
After the Korean War he married his longtime sweetheart, Doris Vining. In May of 1952 he went to work for Stromberg Carlson as a telephone equipment installer. Over the years he worked as a telephone installer for several telephone companies throughout the southeast. In 1963, he moved to Claxton and started his own company as a contractor, installing and servicing telephone equipment for independent telephone companies.
Mr. Harris was involved in community and church activities while living in Claxton. He served as a Deacon for 20 years at First Baptist Church. He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was past master of Ezel Lodge #294 of Claxton, Ga.
One of his most prized accomplishments was the book he wrote in 2009 entitled "From Crank Phones to Cell Phones", describing the many changes that occurred during his 52 years of working in the communications field.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 
Fletcher-Day Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.fletcherdayfuneralhome.com