Mary Harrison-Wilkes

Mary Viola Smith Harrison-Wilkes (72) was born January 10, 1943 in Columbia, MO. to the union of Elmer Smith and Ruth Viola Bonaparte and was the first baby born of th New Year in Columbia. From an early age she had a love for music and sung in many different choirs in school and in church. She tended Manual High School and gradued in 1961 with honors. In 1961, she married Creston Harrison and moved to New Jersey. During their union six children were born. She was an active Member and deaconess of New Bethel Baptist Church and was usually the Mistress of Ceremony and sung in the choir. Her love for children extended outside of the home and she eventually started taking Early Childhood Educion classes Kean University in Union, New Jersey. She also worked as a teacher’s aide several daycares. 1986 is the year in which she moved back to Kansas City and continued her educion Penn Valley Community College. She joined 35th Street Missionary Baptist Church and continued singing in the choir. Mary eventually became a licensed daycare provider in her home and did this until she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. She never complained and always had a positive titude and expressed her love for the Lord to everyone. She ler became an active member of Second Missionary Baptist Church and was on the Mother Board until she departed life on Tuesday, September 20th, 2016. Preceding her in deh are her mother, fher, one sister, and only brother. She leaves to cherish her in memory are her four daughters: Sharion Johnson (Keith), Brenda Hannon (Perry), Andrea Harrison, Ramona Davis (Michael), two sons: Creston Harrison, Jr. and Stanley Harrison (Dykia); three sisters: Linda Gunn, Phyllis Ray Taylor (Larry), Lillie Alexander, twenty grandchildren and nine gre-grandchildren; her best friend of thirty years, Earnestine Johnson as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relives, and friends.