Episcopal Press and News
Liberia Pays Tribute to the Late Bishop Harris
Diocesan Press Service. November 8, 1965 [XXXVII-2]
Wednesday, October 27, was a national holiday in Liberia, declared in honor of the Rt. Rev. Bravid Washington Harris, their Episcopal Bishop for 19 years. At his funeral in Washington's National Cathedral, Ambassador S. Edward Peal read a tribute from the Liberian people in thankfulness for his ministry in their land.
The burial office was read by Presiding Bishop John E. Hines; the Rt. Rev. Dillard H. Brown; Bishop Harris's successor; the Rt. Rev. John Bentley, former director of the Overseas Department; and the Rt. Rev. William F. Creighton; Bishop of Washington.
Present at the funeral service and later at the interment at Arlington National Cemetery was a delegation from Liberia led by the Secretary of State, J. Rudolph Grimes, and Mrs. Grimes. Included in the group were Ambassador George Padman, the Hon Emmet Harmon, the Hon Magnus Jones, the Rev. J. Dwalu Kimber, Consul General David Thomas, Canon Burgess Carr and Mrs. Carr, and the Hon. Mr. King.
In the military procession to the cemetery Bishop Harris's body was carried on the same caisson that had carried President John F. Kennedy.
Bishop Harris was killed instantly October 21, in a one car accident near Fredricksburg, Va. while en route to a meeting of the board of trustees of St. Paul's College, Lawrenceville, Va. His passengers, Mrs. Harris and Arthur Ben Chitty, president of the Foundation for Episcopal Colleges, were both injured but are recovering.
After serving as Bishop of Liberia, Bishop Harris returned to the United States in 1964 and was acting director of the Foundation for Episcopal Colleges. Although he retired from this position in 1965, he remained active and worked closely with Mr. Chitty.
Prior to his consecration as Bishop of Liberia in 1945, Bishop Harris was rector of Grace Church, Norfolk, Va. From 1937 to 1944 he was Archdeacon for colored work in the Diocese of Southern Virginia, In 1943 he became secretary for Negro work in the Division of Home Mission in the Executive Council's Home Department, a position he held until his election and consecration.
Bishop Harris was born in Warrenton, N. C. on January 6, 1896. He was educated at St. Augustine's College and the Bishop Payne Divinity School.
From 1917 to 1919 Bishop Harris served as a First Lieutenant in the U. S. Army in France. After World War I, he was ordained to the priesthood and served at All Saints' Church in Warrenton.
Bishop Harris received an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary at Alexandria and is the author of "A Study of Our Work."
He was married in 1918 to the former Flossie Mae Adams. They have no children.