Pearlie Mae Harris

Pearlie Mae Harris, 72, of East Peoria, IL, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 9, 2021.

She was born on February 28, 1949, in Cleveland, Mississippi, to Ernestine Whitehead and J.W. Wilson. Pearlie had seven sisters, one brother, and many nieces and nephews. She attended school and church, where, at an early age, she turned her life over to God. She moved to St. Louis in 1971 to live with her aunt, with whom she was very close.

In 1984, Pearlie moved to Peoria, where she met John W. Harris, the love of her life. They were married in Pentwater, Michigan, in 1998. There were many things they enjoyed together, most of all, their trips to Arkansas, Mississippi, California, Oregon and Michigan, where they showered their extended family with love and attention. John's family benefited greatly from Pearlie's capacity to love. She shared her generosity with everyone, especially the young nieces and nephews. She loved them with all her heart and she was especially caring to her mother-in-law during her illness. Everyone enjoyed the food she brought, especially her ribs, cookies and coffee cake!

For 25 years, Pearlie worked at the Chase Bank cleaning services, where she became a supervisor who took great pride in a job well done. She treated her employees with her usual kind demeanor. She also cooked for a fraternity at Bradley University, where she doted on the young men as if they were her own.

She was a breast cancer survivor and volunteered for many years with the Race for the Cure.

Pearlie was awarded a prize from the Peoria Police Department for suggesting a safe place for people to make online sales exchanges.

Pearlie loved to share her beautiful voice by singing in multiple church choirs. She enjoyed her home and working in the yard. She loved movies, dining out, the Par-A-Dice, anything musical, fishing, driving the golf cart, shopping, socializing with the family of Hakkaido, sharing time with her good friends, Barb and Butch, and anything with the family children involved.

She is survived by her husband, John; her mother, Ernestine; and siblings.

John supervised her care with loving devotion and attentiveness during the last year of her illness.

A celebration of her life will held at the mausoleum at Swan Lake Memory Gardens at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 14, 2021. Chester Morris will be officiating.

Pearlie left the following passage on how she wished to be remembered: "Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free. I'm following the path God has laid you see. I took His hand when I heard His call, I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way. I found the peace at the close of day. If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joys, a friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, oh yes, these things I too will miss. My life's been full, I savored much, good friends, good times and loved one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, Don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your hearts, and peace to thee. God wanted me now, He set me free."

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