Lawrence "Larry" Worth Harris Jr.

Lawrence Worth Harris, Jr. (Larry), passed away peacefully at his home in Raleigh on January 1, 2023. He was born in Charlotte, NC, to the late Lawrence Worth Harris and Ruth Doggett Harris. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1958, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and the Naval ROTC program. Larry married his high school sweetheart, Donna Kurtz Harris, in 1958, and then served two years of active duty in the Navy before returning to Charlotte to join the family business, Harris Express, Inc., one of the largest trucking companies on the east coast at the time. Larry and Donna moved to Raleigh in 1965 where Larry began a long, successful career as chairman of Harris Wholesale, Inc., an Anheuser-Busch beer distributor, and as founder of the commercial real estate company, Harrispark Properties. He is remembered by those who worked with him for not only his astute business knowledge, but also for his fairness and generosity.

Though Larry was successful in business, his priority was always his family. He took great interest in and supported the activities of his children through their growing up years and into adulthood, and in later years he was happiest when in the company of his children and grandchildren. He had an enduring love of golf, enjoyed skiing with his family in Colorado, and had a passion for his koi ponds. He and Donna loved traveling and had many wonderful adventures with their children and grandchildren.

Larry was preceded in death in 2021 by Donna, his wife of 63 years.

He is survived by daughter, Edith Harris Upchurch; son, Worth Harris and wife Ann; daughter, Sallie Harris Glover and husband John; and his five grandchildren - Sallie, Jack and Anderson Glover; and Sarah and Georgia Harris. Larry is also survived by his sister Cathy Wochner of Tempe, AZ, his brother Joe Harris and wife Pam of Durham, NC, and many nieces and nephews.

A private memorial service will be held at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh.

In honor of Larry’s accomplishments in both the beer business and commercial real estate, there will be a reception at Seven Saturdays Taproom at Downtown Harrispark, 1399 Capital Blvd., Raleigh, on Monday, January 9 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, with checks made payable to UNC Health Foundation, and mailed to UNC Health Foundation, Attn: UNC Lineberger, P.O. Box 1050, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

Services provided by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC.