Deacon Alfred Harris, III

United States Army Veteran, Deacon Alfred Harris, III, of 113 Blue Bell Lane, Americus, Georgia, died on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the sanctuary of the Union Tabernacle Baptist Church in Americus, Georgia. The burial, with military honors, will follow at the Andersonville National Cemetery in Andersonville, Georgia.

Deacon Alfred Harris, III was born on November 15, 1953, in Sumter County, Georgia, to the late Alfred Harris, Jr. and the late Elizabeth Whitehead-Harris. Affectionately known as “Rick,” he was the second of six children.

Reared and nurtured in a Christian home, Rick accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age. He joined Green Grove Baptist Church and later united with Welcome Baptist Church, where he was ordained as a deacon in 2011, faithfully maintaining his membership until his health declined.

Rick was educated in the Americus City School System and graduated from Americus High School in June 1971. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving honorably from June 1971 until his retirement in September 1992 at the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC/E-7). During his distinguished military career spanning the Vietnam Era, he earned numerous honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

He took great pride in being an Infantry Soldier (11 Bravo), often reminiscing about his experiences as a Drill Sergeant, as well as his time in Jungle School and Air Assault training. His military career included duty assignments in Germany, the Panama Canal Zone, and South Korea, alongside stateside postings at Fort Ord (CA), Fort Campbell (KY), Aberdeen Proving Ground (MD), Fort Jackson (SC), and Fort Benning (GA).

Retiring from the military at age 39, Rick continued a life of dedicated work. He served his community as a police officer with Georgia State University in Atlanta and as a firefighter with the Americus Fire Department. Following years of service with South Georgia Technical College, he retired once more from the public sector. In the private sector, he was employed with Cooper Lighting for several years.

Reflecting on his rich and fulfilling journey, Rick once shared: “If my time here is cut short for any reason, I will not complain, because I already had more to enjoy, appreciate, and cherish than most people.” Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Deacon Ponce DeLeon Harris. He peacefully transitioned on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 53 Years: Gloria Harris of Americus, Georgia; his daughter, Nikka (Alford) Moore of Americus, Georgia; his son, Roderick Harris (companion, Shammonica Mathis) of Americus, Georgia; 13 grandchildren: Kavian, Roderious, Kanye, Destiny, Queen, King, Niafria, Princess, Areille, Loyal, Royal, Nature, and Bleu; his brother, Ray (Angela) Harris of Americus, Georgia; his sisters, Veronica (Herman) Lamar and Vicky (Billy) Austin of Americus, Georgia, and Wiffi Harris of Fairburn, Georgia; his sisters-in-law: Annette (Ollie) Williams of Columbus, Georgia, and Ludell Harris of Atlanta, Georgia; his aunts: Janice Harris, Kathleen Monts, and Annie Maude Harris of Americus, Georgia and Reverend Sheryl (Willie) King of Columbus, Georgia; his uncles: Reverend Gerald (Ann) Harris and Reverend Norris (Pamela) Harris of Americus, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, former colleagues, and devoted friends.