Grave-side Services will be held Saturday April 4th at 12 noon. Pastor Eugene Williams officiating.

Mrs. Emma Cooper-Harris, the daughter and granddaughter of share cropper parents. She was born on May 05, 1950 here in Sharkey County. As a woman, mother, grand-mother, community activist and entrepreneur. She was the daughter of Rose E. Cooper and Leon Cooper. She was the oldest of four and the only female. The widow of Daniel Harris Jr., and grand-mother of Daniel the III. She was a proud mother of nine surrogate children. She was also a member of the Southdale M.B Church where she serviced as Minister of Music and Minister of the Gospel of God. Mrs. Harris was a multi-talented woman that believed that she could do all things through Christ the Strengthen her. Lastly, she believed that our country could be a place where everyone had a fair shot at success.

Education:

• Henry Weathers Junior Senior High School, Rolling Fork, MS: 1967
• Lemoyne Owens College, Memphis TN : 1993-1996
• Jackson State University, Jackson, Ms : 1969-1972
• Natchez College, Natchez Ms: 1975

Experience:

• 25 years of experience in rural community and economic development
• Anttend several rural leadership and development training institutions for Developers, Organizers and Leaders, including the Institute for Policy Making In Washington, D.C

Accomplishments:

• Former Mayor of the town of Anguilla, Ms, first black and only woman of the county. Elected in 2001, served 1 term (2001-2004)
• Elected to the South Delta School Board of Trustees and served for 10 years and di not seek re-election in 2004.
• Former Job Developer with the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc., with Ms and National office in Washington, D.C.
• Director of the Sharkey-Issaquena County Improvement Association, Inc., for 22 years as a Community Organizer/Developer/Community Activist. Founded the Anguilla Children's Village, an After-school tutorial program for ages 5-12, whereby in partnership with the Bernard Van Leer Foundation of the Netherlands and received funding through 2005. This project is located in the Old Plantation house where Cooper-Harris was born and raised.
• Secretary of Mississippi Conference of black Mayors
• Past President of Ms Black Caucus of Local Elected officials
• Served as Chairwoman for the Sharkey County Democratic Party Executive Committee
• Past President of Washington Issaquena Sharkey and Warren County Community Action Agency, Inc.

Organizations/Clubs                                                    Awards/Recognitions

• Heroines of Jericho #710                                      Awarded twice with the Harriet Tubman Award from the Mississippi Magnolia Bar Association
• Daughter of Elk's Hill Temple #711, Belzoni, Ms      Special recognition from USA Birthing Project, Inc.
• NAACP                                                                 Received the Community Image Service Award from the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.,                                                                                 Cleveland, Ms
• Southern Rural Black Women