Joann Marie Harris

January 2, 1942 – February 11, 2025

Gaffney, SC - - Joann Harris passed away on February 11, 2025 after several months of illness. Joann was born as Joann Marie Russell on January 2, 1942 at Georgetown hospital in Washington, D.C. She was the daughter of and preceded in death by Sidney W. Russell and Ann Ryan Russell of Alexandria, Virginia. Joann attended Blessed Sacrament parochial school, St. Rita parochial school and graduated from St. Mary's Academy in Alexandria. She completed college courses at Southern Seminary in Buena Vista, Virginia and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, NC.

Joann worked as a fashion model for Garfunkel's department store in Washington,D.C. and as a lifeguard at various Northern Virginia locations. She married Michael Sanford in 1967 and they had 3 daughters: Maureen, Suzanne and Emily. Suzanne died at an early age due to cerebral palsy. Emily died as an infant of crib death. Maureen resides in Tampa, Florida.

After a divorce, Joann relocated to Virginia Beach where she was employed in office administration at the Christian Broadcasting Network. Joann was a woman of deep faith. Joann met her second husband, James Wendell Harris, a father of four daughters and a U. S. Air Force Captain. They were married on February 7, 1981 in Newport News, VA. With Wendell's four daughters plus Maureen, whom he adopted, their lives became quite full.

The Harrises resided in Northern Virginia, then North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and finally Gaffney, South Carolina for the past 19 years.

Joann is survived by her husband Wendell, her daughters Wanda, Rhonda, Maureen, Cindy and Mindy and by her two brothers, Charles A. Russell of Fredericksburg, VA., Timothy R. Russell of Peachtree City, Ga; and two sisters: Rosemary Sidebottom of Staunton, VA. and Kathleen Glumsic of Forest, VA. She has 8 grandchildren & 9 great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 2:00PM until 3:00PM on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at East Spartanburg Church of God just west of Cowpens, SC on Highway 29. Memorial services will immediately follow at 3:00PM at the Church.  Please send any donations to either the East Spartanburg Church of God, 134 Brooklyn Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307 or to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org).

An online guest register is available at www.blakelyfuneralhome.com

Blakely Funeral Home & Crematory, Gaffney, SC