Mrs. Elnora "Minnie Nell" (Harris) Downs

It was on a Saturday, after celebrating the bountiful blessings of Thanksgiving, that the union of George and Anna (Dawson) Harris would celebrate the birth of their fourth child. Elnora Harris began her journey on November 28, 1936, in the small township of Magnolia, Mississippi. Throughout the majority of her life, she would be known by the name of “Minnie Nell”; few knew her real birth name.

Elnora would grow and be educated with her two brothers (Melvin and Floyd) and two sisters (Marie and Johnnie) in Magnolia. She attended Rosehill School where her interest in fashion took off through a home economics class. Also through her athleticism, she scored the winning goal that placed Rosehill in the basketball championship competition.

It was in 1956, that Elnora fell head over heels with one of the infamous “Downs” boys (Ralph Downs). To their union two children were born; Calvin O’Neal Downs and Cynthia Denise Downs-Brown. After following his Uncle Ezra to Dallas,Texas for employment, Ralph returned to Mississippi to bring his small family to Dallas to live.

While in Dallas, Elnora held various occupations until she decided to spread her wings in1972. Her entrepreneurial skills in fashion, an area which she always loved from her earlier days, became her life-long career. Travel was also a passion which embraced class reunions, family gatherings, and several international locations.

Elnora professed her belief in Christ by joining Allen Chapel Baptist Church, and later united with Griggs Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. She was an active member of the Missionary Society, Adult #2-Sunday School class and became the First “Miss Griggs Chapel” (1980).

Waiting at the river for her homecoming is her father (George), mother (Anna), brother (Melvin) and sister (Marie). Sending her with all their love and joy are: brother (Floyd Harris); sister (Johnnie Harris Winn); son-Calvin, daughter-Cynthia, two grandchildren-Yasmine Ciante Downs and Jordin O’Neal Downs,’ God’ sisters, Bertha Bluitt and Jestina Richardson, ‘God’ daughters-Gwen Reed Acquaye, Betty Shields West and Earnestine Green, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.