Arneeda B. Harris

Arneeda Burnell Harris was born in Petersburg, Virginia, on February 4, 1932, from the union of the late Henry Harris, Sr. and Julia Ann Jackson. Arneeda moved to New York at the age of 10 and was educated in the New York City Public School System and graduated from Prospect Heights High School. After completing High School, Arneeda worked as a bookkeeper. Arneeda had five children, Vance, Vincent, Vanessa, Keith and Kim, and was a dedicated single parent, working part-time as an Avon Rep. Once her youngest child was of school age, Arneeda returned to the work force and was employed at A&S as a Customer Service Rep for several years. She accepted a better opportunity with Irving Trust Bank (Bank of New York) where she worked for nearly 20 years until her retirement in 1994. Arneeda was known for her many talents. She was a great seamstress and designer, styling and designing clothing for herself, her daughters and many of her friends. She was an excellent cook and many would come to enjoy her feasts, especially holiday and Sunday dinners, a skill she passed down to her children. Arneeda was also a great dancer and could out dance many half her age, however, this skill would only be passed down to her oldest daughter, Vanessa. When visiting Arneeda, you would mostly find her with a pen and pad budgeting her finances, writing a list or keeping a log of her visitors and phone conversations (most of her notes written in shorthand). So, if you claimed you visited or spoke to her and she did not recall, she would surely check her notes for verification. Arneeda was very family-oriented and was the glue that held her family together. She was a great listener and was very fair and non-judgmental, which developed into a special bond between her and her daughters-in-law. Arneeda cherished her friendships, whether she knew you for 1 year or 60 years. Whether watching movies or playing Pokeno with her children and grandchildren, playing cards with her good friend Millie, gossiping with her good friend Dolores, reminiscing with her best friend Thelma about the times shared in their over 67-year friendship, her late night pillow talks with her friend of over 64-years Sawyer, or giving advice and sharing good times, Arneeda has touched us all in many ways. On April 4, 2011, Arneeda was called home to the Lord where she will be joining her parents, Henry Harris, Sr. and Julia Ann Jackson, brother, Henry Harris, Jr., son, Vance, grandson, Vincent and great-grandsons, Tajir and Jason, Jr. Arneeda leaves to cherish her memories 4 children: Vincent, Vanessa, Keith and Kim; 15 grandchildren: Vance B., Vance W., Jason, Dorian, Tamika, James, Nathaniel III, Keith, Melvin, Malcolm, Jocelyn, Ebony, Karimah, Keyanah and Essence; 10 great-grandchildren: Vance II, Jaylene, Touré, Destiny, Divine, Gabriel, Melvin, Jr., QuanSae, QuaeSan and Kemora; sons-in-law; daughters-in-law; grandsons-in-law; granddaughters-in-law; step-grandsons and step-granddaughters, and a host of other family and special friends. We will all miss her annual phone calls on our birthdays and her infamous sayings, acting stracted,shucking and jiving,jigga please,you driving me to drink,don't be stressing me and I'm minding my business. Lovingly submitted, The Family

Arneeda B. Harris

February 4, 1932 - April 4, 2011