Mrs. Polly Anna Philips Harris

HARRIS, POLLY ANNA PHILIPS, age 89, of Knoxville, TN, passed away Saturday, April 14, 2018, at The University of Tennessee Medical Center. She was born at Emory Hospital in Atlanta on March 21, 1929. Polly Anna married her childhood sweetheart, the late David J. Harris, in 1949. She graduated from Atlanta Girls High School and received her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics from Agnes Scott College, where she was Valedictorian of the class of 1950. In 1962, she and her family moved to Knoxville, where she gave private piano lessons while raising three children. She earned her Master of Mathematics degree from The University of Tennessee in 1968. She joined the Mathematics Department at Bearden High School in 1970, where she taught for 23 years. She loved all of her students, but took particular pride in her successful efforts to encourage girls to excel in mathematics. She served as a mathematics tutor for the Athletics Department and taught in the Evening School at The University of Tennessee. She was the recipient of many awards, including the 1984 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching, for which she was honored at the White House by President Reagan. Polly Anna was elected to Leadership Knoxville in 1985, the second year of its existence. Each year, the Mathematics Department at UT presents the Polly Anna Harris Scholarship to two future mathematics teachers. At Bearden High School, the Polly Anna Harris Mathematics Wing was dedicated in 2003, and each year the Polly Anna Harris Mathematics Award is presented to a senior student. After retiring, Polly Anna and David enjoyed traveling the world, often taking their children and grandchildren along on their adventures. She belonged to The Murphy Builders Class at Church Street United Methodist Church, where she was a loyal member for 56 years. She was an enthusiastic member of The Ivory League piano group, the Knoxville Symphony League, Ossoli Circle, and the Bearden Retired Active Teachers (BRATs). On April 5, 2018, Polly Anna was inducted into the UT College of Education Hall of Honor. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank Monroe Philips and Polly Coppedge Philips, her husband of 63 years, David J. Harris, Sr., her sister-in-law, Jan Harris Bailey, and her daughter-in-law T. R. Morgan. She is survived by her son David J. Harris, Jr., MD and wife Patti of Knoxville; her son Frank P. Harris and wife Abby Avery of Marietta, GA; her daughter Paula Ann Harris Morrison and husband Grainger of Knoxville; her grandchildren Lauren L. Harris, MD of Knoxville; David J. Harris, III, MD (Jennifer Whittington Harris, MD) of New York City; Andrew P. Harris, MD (Sarah Lyle Harris) of Providence, RI; Madeleine M. Harris, Marietta, GA and her great-grandchildren Heidi Marie Harris and Callaway Lyle Harris. Funeral services will be held at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, April 19, 2018, at Church Street United Methodist Church, 900 Henley St., with the Reverend Dr. Charles Starks presiding. The family will receive friends in the Church Life Center immediately following the service. Interment and graveside services will be held Saturday, April 21, 2018, at noon at the City of Decatur, GA, Cemetery. The family requests that memorials in Polly Anna’s name be made to Church Street United Methodist Church or to the Polly Anna Harris Scholarship Fund at the Mathematics Department of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Online condolences may be sent to www.rosemortuary.com. Arrangements provided by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.

Tributes

Mrs. Polly Anna Philips Harris

March 21, 1929 - April 14, 2018