Jane Harris

Former Fremont resident, Jane Harris, 93 of New York went to be with the Lord early Thursday morning at the Valley Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in Tucson, Arizona. Born on May 18, 1913 in Fremont, Ohio, and named Barbara Jane Pettiford, she is the eldest of seven children of the now deceased Howard and Alta (Morgan) Pettiford. Jane graduated from Fremont Ross High School and completed two years of college at Ohio State University. Married at age 24 she had her first child, Alta Hubbard, at age 28. During a second marriage, and after a move to New York City, she had her second daughter Karen Elizabeth Harris, nicknamed Kay. Jane had several careers: a youth director with the Urban League in Columbus, Ohio; Nursery School Teacher in New York City, then a career of 20 plus years at New York Telephone Company, starting out as an information operator and retiring as a manager in the Public Relations Department. It was during those years that Jane worked diligently for racial equality and justice. Jane was the sole African American Girl Scout troop leader in the north Bronx for many years. She also served as president of the Catholic Interracial Council, president of the Bronx Chapter of the National Council of Negro Women, member of the NYPD Citizens Review Board, member of the US Military Draft Induction Board, organized a NYC contingent to participate in the historic March on Washington and was frequently called upon by city administrators to serve in various capacities as a leader of the community. When she retired at age 65, Jane returned to college to complete her Baccalaureate Degree. She graduated Cum Laude with her Masters in English Literature at the age of 77 from Herbert H. Lehman College of New York. Janes love of literature led her to study the works of Shakespeare at Oxford University, England. She returned to New York and established the Jane Harris Scholarship Fund at Lehman College where she taught English 101 for 3 years. Janes strong dedication to improving the lives of minorities led her to create and run an English tutorial lab for students having difficulty passing their English Writing courses. In her spare time Jane volunteered as a Docent at the Lehman College Art Museum and enjoyed playing the piano. Janes adventurous spirit took her to many countries including Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, England, Israel and Japan as well as trips to the Caribbean and Hawaii. In May of 2002, Jane and her eldest daughter moved to Tucson, Arizona. Surviving are her daughters Alta Hubbard of Tucson and Karen E. Harris of Washington D.C., brothers John E. and Thomas A. (Barbara) Pettiford all of Fremont, grandchildren Bess A. Hubbard and Nancy Nardo Montano and great grandchildren Orion Nardo and Lucian Montano. Jane is preceded in death by her parents, siblings Robert L. Pettiford, Betty Roberts, and twin sisters, Mary Adrienne Yates and Anne K. Watts and special companion T. J. Sellers. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. at the Herman-Kinn-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Fremont where visitation will be on Monday from 4-6 p.m. Rev. Gerald Ceranowski, St. Anns Catholic Community, will officiate. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Fremont. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Office of the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633