Gracie Lee Harrison
Gracie Lee Harrison
Gracie Lee Harrison sadly passed away on October 5, 2025, in Dothan, Alabama, at the age of 89. Born on September 20, 1936, in Sneads, Florida to John W. and Fannie Lee Colvin. She was the wife of Walter Herbert (Shorty) Harrison and they enjoyed 64 years of marriage until his death in 2018.
She graduated from Sneads High School and attended LPN Training at Florida State Hospital where she retired as a unit supervisor after 30 years of service. She continued her career as a nurse working in the Sneads Office of Dr. Van De Carr and Dr. Joe Gay. After years of night shifts and hard work, early mornings and long days she finally gave herself a break and retired for real!
Gracie loved to sing and was a member of the Glee Club, the United Methodist Choir and her family trio. She raised her children in Church and shared her love of music with them. She wanted singers and piano players in the family and 2 of her girls took to the piano but little sister had no interest and the only song Jeff ever learned to play was ‘From a wigwam’ and that had no place in Church. But our Mama had a beautiful voice and was asked to sing at many weddings and Church services. For years she and her daughters Barbara and Donna sang as a Christian trio which made her extremely happy. She loved to sing hymns at home while ‘piddling’ and enjoyed her Bee Gees CD mostly for their harmony.
Gracie loved to cook and her family thought she was the best cook in the world! She enjoyed cookbooks and the search for a perfect recipe for Sunday lunch. She loved desserts and they were usually placed in the middle of her meal. She was an avid reader and could read in a room filled with people. In later years her eyesight changed but she still enjoyed reading her Bible (and Cookbooks). Thanks Lynn! Her grandchildren will always cherish the times she read to them!
She is survived by her loving daughters, Belinda (Keith) Caplinger, Barbara Pelt, and Donna Gilley; her grandchildren, Jennifer (Billy) Benton, Tabitha (Travis) Conrad, Jesse (Kayla) Gilley III, Lindsey Harrison (Andy Wraithmell), Dr. Rachel Ward (Dakota), and Emily (Ethan) Bass; her step-grandchildren, Lorrie Hickey and Jenny Lee Baxter; her great-grandchildren, Kyle (Sydney) Benton, Tilly (Dillon) Arnold, Tatum Conrad, Alex Benton, Trisha Conrad, Ann Marie Gilley, Jesse John Gilley IV, Margot Bass, and Daisy Bass, and her great-great-grandchildren, Lyla Benton and Braxton Benton. Gracie also leaves behind her sister, Mary Harrison (Grover) and many nieces and nephews. Special also to her were Kim Mahmood and family, and a grand dog ‘Corky’ that loved his grandma.
Gracie was preceded in death by her beloved parents, her devoted husband, her loving son Herbert Jeffery (Jeff) Harrison, and her sister Daisy Louise Herring and husband Billy. The loss of her son Jeff at the age of 50 was a profound sorrow that she carried the rest of her life. Gracie was a virtuous wife, a loving mother, and a proud and loving grandmother. We her family are completely devastated and in shock by her sudden death. The plan was many more birthday parties for her. She was the head of our family, our queen! We will suffer in the days and weeks to come probably for years even. But ‘We will not sorrow as those who have no hope.’ (1 Thessalonians 4:13) We will see our mama again. Our family is very grateful for the prayers, calls, text messages and food we received as nourishment to our heart and soul at this very very sad time.
Funeral Services for Gracie will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Sneads Assembly of God Church beginning at 11:00 AM with Rev. Bill Mayo and Dr. Juno Douglas officiating. A time of visitation for friends and family will begin one hour prior to the funeral service.
Serving as pallbearers are Dillon Arnold, Ethan Bass, Billy Benton, Caleb Mills, Dakota Ward, and Keith Caplinger.