Leslie Bernice Harris

Born 24 March 1973 to Sharon Harris (Burch) and James Harris in Indianapolis IN. She spent the first 6 weeks of her life at Methodist Hospital where she was born with a paralyzed vocal cord. At 6 months she was admitted to Riley Hospital where they determined the cords were normal, but she spent 6 weeks there learning to swallow.

Leslie gave her life to Christ early in her life. She became a member of Breeding Tabernacle CME Church under the pastoral direction of the Late Arthor C. McClendon, Sr. Leslie would later join Kingdom Builders Community Church under the pastoral care of Randall P. Pierce, Jr. Leslie was appointed to serve on the Trustee Team, where she served faithfully until her death. Leslie loved her church and felt fulfilled.

Just over a year old, Leslie lived in Kleinsteinhausen, West Germany for two years before returning the states to Grissom AFB near Peru Indiana. She began school at St. Charles Catholic Church in Peru Indiana. Her baby sister, Victoria, arrived late 1980 and we moved back to Indianapolis in 1981. Leslie attended Lakeside Elementary, Stoney Brook Middle School, and Warren Central High School where she graduated with honors and studied at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.

Leslie was active with the Girl Scouts from a Brownie, Camp Counselor, and with 3 of her original Brownies, they led their own Brownie Troop at 18 years old. Leslie was very active in band and orchestra from middle school through high school playing several instruments. As a freshman at IUPUI, Leslie began working as a waitress at Cracker Barrel Restaurant. Through her college years she also worked at IU Hospital in Radiology. Her senior year she and Victoria were joined by there siblings April, Derek, Germany, Jeremy, Terrell, and Thomas.

Leslie moved on into management at Cracker Barrel (Seymour IN), Pilot, FedEx, Target, and she was employed at Navient at the time of her death. She made many lasting friends throughout her life.

Leslie was a big Elvis geek, designated a room in her home as the “Elvis Room”. She’d been to Graceland and seen every Elvis movie ever made. She also enjoyed Country music and musicals. Garth Brooks was a favorite. As her brothers grew older, they would say she tricked them into watching musicals (they loved them and sang along). She was a big reader and collector. Some Leslie’s favorite things were vampire books and movies, collected Boyd’s Bears, Beanie Babies, Carin Sculptures, Funko Pop Characters and a few other things.

Leslie loved her family, especially her late grandmother, Chester Bernice Carpenter. She touched so many lives in her 47 years and will be truly missed.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her mother Sharon Burch Harris, sisters Victoria and April Harris, brothers, Derek Ryan of Colorado, Germany of Lafayette IN, Terrell Harris, and Marlon Johnson of Florida. Nieces Vannessa, Jayme Harris, Ava Russel, and a nephew, Nicholas J Robinson. She was preceded in death by brothers Jeremy and Thomas Harris. She will be buried next to her brothers. She also leaves her father James H Harris, Jr. and host of family and friends.

As Leslie’s answering machine used to say, Elvis and Leslie, have left the building!