Ms. Velma Harris was born on January 8, 1945 in Kingston, Mississippi to the union of Bertha Reed and Robert Harris.

Velma was raised in Kingston where she received her high school diploma. After high school she attended Sadie Victoria Thompson College in Tougaloo, Mississippi and received a Bachelor’s Degree.

Velma secured employment in information technology at Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio. She then relocated to South Bend and began employment on July 1, 1973 at the University of Notre Dame in the Information Technology Department; she retired from the University on February 29, 2002.

In South Bend she became a member of Mount Olive M.B. Church and later moved her membership to Greater Saint John Missionary Baptist Church and was a member at the time of her passing.

Velma passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, November 15, 2020; she was 75.

Velma was the proud mother of one child a son, Nigel Kristin Harris who preceded her in death on July 8, 2002. She was a member Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She was also active in her church and happily committed to her responsibilities there. Velma was a quiet, yet outspoken woman who had a gentle smile and friendly persona. She was very organized and methodical in her ways. Velma was never about lights and flashiness and carefully laid out plans for her home going service. She requested that her service be solemn and without grandstanding and a eulogy was not necessary. This was who Velma was.

Her memory will be cherished by eight siblings, Bettye Birdie of Natchez, Mississippi, Audrey Birdie Williams of South Bend, Robert Harris, III, of Tacoma, Washington, Calvin Harris also of Natchez, Hazel Harris Morgan of Fayette, Mississippi, Larry Harris, Rose Harris and Darrell Harris all of Natchez; a special aunt, Augustine Cox of Detroit, Michigan and a special nephew, Anthony Birdie of South Bend, along with a host of other relatives, friends, her brothers and sisters in Christ at Greater St. John and her AKA Sorors.

Along with her son Nigel, Velma was also preceded in death by her father, Robert Harris, Sr., her mother and stepfather, Bertha and Anthony Birdie and one sister, Viola Birdie O’Neal.

Velma will be laid to rest next to her son at Cedar Grove Cemetery, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana.

+ +