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In Memoriam
Herman Harrison --- December 17, 1944 – December 25, 2020
A native of Shreveport,
Louisiana, Herman Harrison and his beloved wife, Barbie,
have lived in Toledo since 1972. On December 25, 2020,
Herman died in the arms of his wife and surrounded by their
children.
The son of Reverend Andrew
C. and Vera Harrison, Herman was preceded in death by both
parents and his sister, Mattie (Howard) Spiller.
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Herman earned his bachelor
of arts degree in Biological Science and Chemistry at
Grambling State University in 1969. After graduation, he
taught for several years in the Mansfield and Caddo Parish
School Systems. He worked at Libbey Owens Ford Glass Company
as a research chemist and was transferred to Toledo in 1972.
Herman worked with LOF for
13 years before joining BASF Corporation. He led the
Electro-Coat Paint Division and was later transferred to
Detroit as a Marketing and Technical Sales Representative
before retiring in 2006.
In 1975, Herman was
ordained as a deacon at Macedonia Baptist Church by Pastor
Elijah S. Hicklin and provided leadership in various church
ministries. He and Barbie would enroll in the masters of
Divinity Program at Winebrenner Theological Seminary in
Findlay, Ohio.
Almost 40 years after
being ordained as a church deacon at Macedonia, Herman
finally took the plunge on Sunday December 14, 2014 and
began the next chapter of his life – preaching. His
inaugural sermon at his then church, third Baptist, was
inspired by one of his favorite passages, the 23rd
Psalm and its critical phrase – “though I walk through the
shadow of the valley of death, I will fear no evil.”
There are two types of
valleys, he explained. One is the physical, while the other
is the emotional – the low place in life caused by
loneliness, despair, depression. Those are the places, said
the first-time preacher, where one need not be alone.
“When you walk through the
valley, take the Lord with you,” he advised his listeners.
“He doesn’t want you to be alone. He knows all about your
problems. He knows about all of your problems. He knows
about your valleys. Put your trust in Him.”
Herman and Barbie shared
three children – Brian, Marcus and Kristan. Herman was a
devoted husband, father and grandfather – he was a
supportive friend to many. He is survived also by brothers
Cornelius (Neal) Harrison, Charner (Annie) Harrison, Joseph
(Sally) Harrison, Johnny Ray Harrison; seven grandchildren –
Darre, Isiah, Tavion, Addie, Phillip, Marcus II and Andrew,
along with numerous loving nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws
and friends everywhere in the country.
Virtual services were held
at the House of Day Funeral Service on Saturday, January 2,
2021
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