Uncrowned Community Builders

Rosella J. Harris, daughter of the late Marria and Alfred Jones, was born in Marshall, Texas on September 15, 1898. She graduated from Central High School in Praire View, Texas; Bishop College in Dallas, Texas; and Howard University in Washington, D.C. She taught school in Praire View.

Rosella was married to John R. Harris and was stepmother to the late John and Wilford Harris.

After coming to Buffalo, she co-founded the Buffalo chapter of Iota Phi Lambda, a business sorority, along with Geneva B. Scruggs, Virginia Long, and others sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s.

She worked for many years at the Veteran's Administration.

She was a faithful member of the Humboldt Parkway Baptist Church. She served on the Senior Choir and the Golden Deeds Club. Her quite and peaceful manner was a positive influence in the total work of the Church.

Mrs. Harris died on July 21, 1987.