Raised in lazy, deep Georgia
Where Seminoles used to play
He was the baby of seven.
A sweetheart then and today.
❤️
Mama, the apple of his eye
Foretold a better life to savor.
Hope Diamond’s jeweler name
His path from poverty to favor.
❤️
Shanty life on the farm was hard
Meager crops yielding out of the clay
Buttermilk biscuits with gravy
Was his best meal of the day.
❤️
That recipe made mama famous
Later bringing it to Hickory
Travelers would stop by just to
Savor home-baked hospitality.
❤️
Tidewater became his home
This neighborhood, his classroom
Working lumber mills and farm fields
Dreaming for better days to bloom.
❤️
A vision for his future family
Appeared on a Great Bridge ride
From his bus, saw construction
His someday home, watched it rise.
❤️
One 4th of July, a burrow pit beckoned
To escape the summer heat
A place of refreshment and fun
He left with his heart complete.
❤️
A fetching lass from Moyock
Alice stirred in him great desire
Soon thereafter, they embarked
Five decades their passion afire.
❤️
Newly engaged, and undecided
Whether VA or NC would do
He stopped at Kay’s Place for
A game of pool or two.
❤️
He shared his location dilemma
With his neighbor at the bar
He said I have just the place
For sale today, it’s not too far.
❤️
His promise, when a lad
Came true that very day.
That house became their home
Where his kids would someday play.
❤️
One day he dreamed of Sunshine
Opportunities for a better life
Pounding Miami streets for jobs
Providing for his newborn and his wife.
❤️
Job promises made, later broken
Heading home to VA at last
Our prior home unsold awaited
Our future built upon our past.
❤️
We welcomed a new addition
Big brother had his little sis
A pair forever unbroken
A love from that day to this.
❤️
He stocked the shelves & rows
First at A&P, next with Coke
Scraping up a modest income
Rich in Love, never ever broke.
❤️
He climbed the salesman ladder
Rising through Cola’s ranks
Winning with a Coke and a Smile,
A cruise he won as their thanks.
❤️
A new vocation came later
After an injury to his back
Giving schools new scoreboards
Wherever Pepsi was given the sack.
❤️
To get away from working
He drove to the mountain top
The only fear of heights we had
He got too close, we yelled stop.
❤️
His love of golf unending
He even brought it home
His sand trap and green awaited
Where tomatoes once did roam.
❤️
A natural coach and leader
He taught so many to drive
Yellow busses, bringing kids to
Schools of Tradition & Pride.
❤️
When it came time to retire
To Kitty Hawk, they did move
Poetry books were published
Beach life became their groove.
❤️
What I remember most
From this new season of ease
How many dad jokes flowed
With a “Harry Special, please!”
❤️
His love of people & the Lord
Best medicine for any day.
His daily life, a great example of
Worship whether at work or play.
❤️
All of us, in this room have a
Favorite Harry-O joke or story.
Share these with one another for
Our smiles give the Father Glory.
❤️
For dad knew this, most of all
We are here to uplift each other
With a joke, a hug, a smile
For all are our sister and brother.
❤️
Our hearts are sad, we miss you so
No matter how hard we try
Now with Jesus, mom, all your friends
New angel wings, we all can say
Fly, daddy fly!