Fallen Hero: Retired Master Sergeant Jim Wayne Harris

Meridian, MS

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Funeral Home

Robert Barham Family Funeral Home

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Obituary

Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary:

Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”.

In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero.  Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.

Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on February 15, 2026, and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Master Sergeant Jim Wayne Harris, age 80, Meridian, MS, who had served in the 150th Brigade Engineer Battalion has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord.

It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country.  A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.

Rest in Peace Soldier.  We applaud your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright, and live so free.

You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.

Another great Soldier has gone home, “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life”.

Obituary, Visitation, and Service Details:

Funeral services for Mr. Jim Wayne Harris will begin at 1:30 PM Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home chapel with the Reverends Dr. Dan Lanier and Dr. Wade Phillips officiating. Interment will follow graveside rites at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. The Harris Family will receive guests from 11:30 AM until 1:15 PM at the funeral home prior to funeral rites. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Mr. Harris, 80, of Meridian, died Sunday, February 15, 2026, at Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, LA following an extended illness.

Jim is known as husband, dad, and Pappy by his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.

Jim was a loving and devoted husband. Jim and Diane recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on February 5th, 2026. He loved Diane with all his heart. One might say that they grew up together. Where you saw one, you saw the other. In fact, most of the great grands used the names Nanny/Pappy or most recently “Pap Pap” interchangeably in their early lives. Jim and Diane raised a family together in the early days and then as time went on Diane assisted him in his business and rode the roads with him before his retirement where they spent their days in and around their home in Russell.

Dad was the spiritual leader in our home as we grew up. We never wondered what we were doing on Sunday. We were going to church. He taught us the value of hard work both in our careers and in church and other organizations we became a part of. He never sat on the sidelines, he jumped in with both feet. We learned integrity, grace, humility, kindness, and forgiveness from the way dad lived his life.

Pappy was an involved grandfather and great grandfather. He was present and in their lives. He and Nanny went to ball games, rodeos, dance recitals, cheer events, school events, church programs, graduations, and weddings. Pappy has been the pillar of family events. He made sure that we as a family kept Christ at the center of each Christmas celebration. A reading from the Book of Luke, in the Bible, and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus was expected and became an all-time favorite tradition for our family. Pappy loved all the babies and as they grew he took moments to teach them his core values.

Jim worked in Maintenance Sales as a business owner from 1982-2019. Prior to this, he was a Service Manager for Buck Glenn and Paul Moak Dealerships. Jim was an active member at First Baptist Church of Marion and later Northcrest Baptist Church. Jim has served as Deacon in both locations and was named Deacon Emeritus. Jim was a Secretary for the Gideons International. Jim is retired from his service with the Army National Guard as First Sergeant E7.

Jim’s favorite things included fixing things, tinkering, and tractors. He loved to go outside to his shop. Jim enjoyed traveling with Diane. They camped, spent summers at the beach, and loved to go to the mountains. Recently, he enjoyed vacationing with kids, grandkids, and great grands.

Jim will be remembered for his sweet smile, big hugs, and the life of integrity he lived. He made all those around him feel loved. He not only read his Bible daily, he lived according to God’s word. He has left his family, all four generations, with a Godly example on how to live. Jim will be remembered as the love of Diane’s life, Dad and Pappy. He will be greatly missed and thought of daily. “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Mr. Harris is survived by his wife of 61 years, Diane Harris; children, Timmy Harris (Misty), Tammy Matthews (Jimmy), and Kim Eldridge (Tim); grandchildren, Michael Crowe (Mary Lawrence), Chase Harris (Kaitlyn), Cody Crowe (Courtney), Allison Harris Boothe (Thomas), Kinley Eldridge Murphy (Dalton), Natalie Eldridge (Memphis Adams), Jessica Matthews Merrill (Forrest), Sydney Matthews Dugas (Zach), and Jamie Matthews Lundy (Jeffrey); great-grandchildren, Aubrey Harris, Anne Harris Crowe, Brighton Dugas, Beckham Lundy, Jack Crowe, Hadley Lundy, Case Wayne Crowe, Blair Dugas, Millie Harris, and Riley Harris; his sister, Barbara Harris Parker (Richard); as well nieces, Ann Manning (Lester), Debbie Skinner (Bobby), and Theresa Harris, and numerous extended family members.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Allie and Ollie Mae Harris; his brother, John Allen Harris (Juanita); and his nephew, Johnny Harris.

Pallbearers will be the Deacons of Northcrest Baptist Church.

The Harris Family suggests memorials be made as donations to Northcrest Baptist Church Youth Building Fund, The Gideon’s International, or floral offerings.