Fallen Hero: Retired Staff Sergeant Grady Milton Harris

Okalona, MS

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Funeral Home

Hollander Funeral Directors

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Obituary

In 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 May 1, 2026, and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Staff Sergeant Grady Milton Harris, age 80, Okalona, MS who served in the 223rd Engineer Battalion has departed and gone to a better place with our Lord and Savior.

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:

Okolona-Grady Milton Harris departed this world for his eternal home from Sanctuary Hospice House at 2:35 AM Thursday, May 1, 2026 after a period of declining health. He was 80. Grady was born in Nettleton, MS. on March 5, 1946 to the late Grady Harris and Annie Long Harris. The family moved to Okolona where he graduated from Okolona High School. Grady married the late Martha Ann Criddle Harris and they enjoyed a happy marriage until her death on November 20, 2005. Grady was a steady worker and spent over 36 years working for Action/Lane Industries retiring in the Customer Service Division. A patriotic American, Staff Sergeant Harris (E-6) spent 24 years, 9 months and 4 days in the Mississippi National Guard and U. S. Army Reserves serving in the 223rd Engineering Battalion in Okolona. He was federalized in the U. S. Army during the Panama Canal Crisis. For his years of service, SSG Harris received several medals for his bravery. A Baptist, Grady was well grounded, was devoted to his late wife and his family and a good provider. He enjoyed the outdoors especially fishing and will be missed by all family and many friends.

A service celebrating his life will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 2 PM in the Okolona Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with Bro. Danny Owens officiating. Private burial will be in East Chickasaw Memorial Gardens. Wanda Carol Sweeney will provide music. Visitation will begin at Noon on Sunday at Holland-Okolona Chapel, 300 West Main, Okolona and continue until service time at 2 PM. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to be serving their friends.

Grady leaves his surviving family-two daughters, Tina Harris of Tupelo and Karen Dodson and husband, Larry of Amory; two step sons, Toy (Stacey) Coleman of Ocean Springs and Greg Coleman of Houston. 2 grandchildren whom Papaw Grady loved, Gary “Tink” Gann and wife, Samantha and Ihle Gilmore and husband, Jack of Brandon; his sisters Bertie Cooley and husband, Bill of Mantachie and sister in law, Phyllis Harris of Okolona. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Ann Harris; his parents, Grady and Annie Harris; his sisters, Frances (John) Smith and Elizabeth (Billy Ray) Gaskin and his brother, Bill Harris.

Pallbearers will be Carl Hussey, Butch Jones, Howard Gasking, Gary “Tink” Gann, Chad Cooley and Dustin Harris. Honorary Pallbearers will be Chandler Gladney, Billy Harris, Ted Ward, Jerry Ward, Ralph Bell and Cecil Ferguson. Memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P. O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS. 38803 or to Wags of Monroe Co (Animal Shelter), P. O. Box 105, Okolona, Ms. 38850

Condolences may be posted on Grady’s memorial page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com