John H. Harless

John H. Harless, age 82, of Birmingham, Alabama went to be with the Lord on November 29th, 2021 after a courageous battle with liver disease. John was a devout husband, a loving father, and a friend to so many. He was a loyal member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood, Alabama. Known affectionately by many of his close friends as “Johnny,” he mastered the art of selling soft drinks. Johnny was a dedicated employee of Buffalo Rock Bottling Company where he worked for nearly 40 years, rising up the ranks of the organization from a route salesman to retiring as the Home Market Sales Manager for the Birmingham division. He considered all of his clients and coworkers to be dear friends. Johnny was beloved by everyone and blessed with many talents, but his greatest gift was being an incredible father and grandfather to his children and grandchildren. Johnny’s humility, selflessness, and kindness were boundless. While his loved ones will miss him more than words can express, we rejoice that Johnny has reunited with Sandra - the love of his life - in heaven.

Johnny was preceded in death by his wife of over thirty years, Sandra Potter Harless, his brother, Ronnie Harless, and his son, Keith Harless. He is survived by his two children: Kathy Michelle Harless and Michael Shane Harless. John is also survived by his sister, Kaye Vicars, his sister-in-law (Jane Harless), his brother-in-law (Charles E. “Chuck” Potter, Jr.), and his sister-in-law (Ann Bobo Potter). Johnny was beloved by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Jeff Brewer, Julie Brewer, Jacob Brewer, J.P. Brewer, Sam Harless, Olivia Harless, Arabella Brewer, Dylan Brewer, Kace Pryor, and Thomas Pryor.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 2nd, from 12:30 – 1:30 P.M. at Ridout’s Valley Chapel in Homewood, Alabama and will be immediately followed by a graveside service at 2 P.M. at Forest Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Firehouse Community Arts Center, which is a local non-profit organization that provides music lessons to underserved students in the Birmingham community (firehousecac.org).

Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel located at 1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Alabama 35209.