PTA Celebrates the Life of Mrs. Narvie J. Harris

MRS. NARVIE J. HARRIS

President of Georgia Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers

1966-1971

Recently, Georgia lost a great woman - Narvie J. Harris passed away on October 30, 2009 at the Atlanta Medical Center.  Mrs. Harris was an educator, leader, innovator, and mentor for countless individuals.  She touched the lives of thousands of parents, teachers, students and supporters of public education. 

Mrs. Harris was raised in Atlanta and educated in the Atlanta Public Schools.  She attended Clark College, Atlanta University, Tuskegee Institute, Tennessee A& I University, Grambling College, Wayne State University and the University of Georgia.  She taught at the elementary, high school and college levels and served as Instructional Supervisor in the DeKalb County School System.    Mrs. Harris has a DeKalb County elementary school named in her honor.  Mrs. Harris, at the request of Georgia Governor, Lester Maddox, served on the Advisory Board for the Governor’s Conference on Education.  She served on this board for five years.  At the request of then Governor Jimmy Carter Mrs. Harris was selected as part of the Georgia Partners of America, visiting Brazil.  “The purpose” said Mrs. Harris, “is to help to build bridges of friendship between Georgians and Brazilians.”  “We will live in the homes,” she said, “to see at close range, how citizens of each country live, work and enjoy every phase of life.”

In 1966 Narvie J. Harris, serving as the vice president of the Georgia Colored Congress of Parents and Teachers, became hospitalized at the same time as the president Blanche Baldwin.  Mrs. Harris was still in the hospital when Mrs. Baldwin passed away. After Mrs. Harris’ release from the hospital she endured an extensive convalescence.   Mrs. Harris recuperated and was able to preside at her first state convention in 1967 in Augusta, GA. 

For four years Mrs. Harris brought greetings from the Georgia Colored Congress to the Georgia Congress of Parents and Teachers during their annual convention.  Narvie Harris worked in various capacities with GA PTA presidents Leland Bagwell, Ann Woodward and Leason Hart.  In 1967 the Georgia Congress of Parents and Teachers bestowed an Honorary Life Membership on Narvie Harris.  The fifty years of parallel Parent-Teacher Association organizations in Georgia was ending.  During their separate existence both congresses worked together on issues and projects, often attending the same conferences within and outside of the state.  The result of their mutual collaborations naturally led to meetings and discussions of unifying the organizations.

It was time, with segregation finally ending, for the two great organizations to unite.  The National PTA and The National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers began the talks about unification years before.  Both National Congresses submitted the unification plan to the Board of Managers of the NCPT at its meeting in Dallas, Texas on January 28, 1970.  It was unanimously approved.

The unification was effective on July 1, 1970.  The unification ceremony took place in Atlanta, on June 22, 1970 during the NCCPT annual convention.  The location of Atlanta was fitting because the two founders of the respective organizations were natives of Georgia.  Mrs. Harris who attended the ceremony on that day still remembered clearly how inspirational and moving the unification was. 

Part of the National plan called for all the separate state organizations to unify.  This idea was already in the discussion and planning stage by the Georgia Congresses.  The Georgia Congress of Colored Parents, needed to officially vote to dissolve their organization.  Mrs. Harris as President of the GCCPTA presided at the annual meeting in March in Columbus, Georgia.  The Georgia Congresses officially merged in 1971.  

Narvie continued to be active in PTA; NPTA President Jan Domene bestowed an honorary National PTA Lifetime Achievement Award during the rededication program in Atlanta recognizing her friend and confidant, National PTA Founder Selena Sloane Butler.

Narvie’s legacy will be felt for generations to come.  We will miss her.