Janet Carol Harris

Scarborough - Janet C. Harris of Portland died peacefully on Tuesday December 14, 2010 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House . She was born September 15, 1947 in Washington, DC daughter of the late James and Janet Lee Jones. She later moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to attend college and raise her son Sean. She received her Bachelors degree from Emmanuel College and a dual Masters degree from Boston University. She worked for Harvard Community Health Plan as a social worker for over 20 years. Janet was an avid reader and she also worked for the Cambridge Massachusetts Public Schools as a librarian.

Janet moved to Portland in 2000 to be with her son, daughter-in law and granddaughter. After moving to Maine, Janet pursued her call to Christian ministry at Green Memorial AME Zion Church in Portland. Her faith and earnest desire to serve God was Janet’s passion and purpose for the last ten years. Janet served in many official capacities at Green Memorial Church; class leader, deaconess, Woman’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society Life Member, exhorter and most recently local preacher. She was also a dedicated Bible study student and led Wednesday night prayer meeting. Janet’s ministry extended into the local community, where she was a long standing prayer leader and volunteer at the Root Cellar, and she also completed the chaplain program at Maine Medical Center where she served as a chaplain volunteer for several years.

Janet is survived by her son; Sean and his wife Elizabeth of Portland, her sister; Sylvia Roberts, her brother; Robert Jones, her granddaughter; Enrica and their large extended family in Washington DC. Known as Grandma Boo to all her grandchildren, family, and countless others that loved her, Janet’s humor and boundless joy will be greatly missed. Janet will also be deeply missed by her church family at Green Memorial, but her spirit and zeal for the Gospel lives on in the legacy of faith that she left behind and the many lives she touched.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodfords St., Portland, on Saturday, December 18, 2010 from 4-6 p.m.

A celebration of Janet’s life will follow at Green Memorial AME Zion Church, 46 Sheridan Street, Portland at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the college scholarship fund at Green Memorial Church.

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Janet’s guestbook.

Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home & Cremation Services

199 Woodford St.

Portland, ME 04103

207-775-3763