Miss Leola Harris died Wednesday morning

The beloved Miss Leola Harris died at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday after suffering a heart attack Oct. 9. She would have been 58 next Monday.

Family members confirmed Harris’s death, and Jefferson Funeral Home will be handling her funeral arrangements.

Born in Vicksburg Oct. 26, 1962, Harris grew up in Vicksburg and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She still managed to do great in school and was a proud 1981 Vicksburg High School graduate.

Leola Harris. (photo by Larry Walker)

Harris also attended Hinds Community College where she earned a welding certificate in 1982 just a year after graduating from VHS.

Leola Harris as a child (photo courtesy the family)

Most individuals who saw Miss Harris hanging around downtown Vicksburg assumed she was homeless, but she actually had an apartment in the city that she loved.

Harris was close to her family and cared deeply for her nieces and nephews.

“She played a big role in helping raise her nieces and nephews and she always kept a smile on her face,” said Kizzy Butler, one of Harris’ nieces. “She loved her parents and family,” Butler added.

Harris was youngest girl of 11 children. Her father, Leo Harris, passed away in 1998, but her mother, Gladys Butler, is still alive.

Downtown Vicksburg will forever remember Miss Leola who always seemed to brighten the day for everyone she met.

A date has not been set for Harris’ funeral, yet, but the Vicksburg Daily News will provide additional information as we receive it.