Mary Ruth Harrison

During the early morning hours of September 13, 2018, Mary Ruth Harrison passed away peacefully in her sleep. She was born May 10, 1925 in Denora, Pennsylvania to the late John Coffey and the late Vida Henson Coffey. The family moved a few months later to Ellijay, Georgia where she lived until she graduated from Ellijay High School. After graduation, Mary Ruth moved to Atlanta to attend Secretarial School and was hired as a stenographer at Southeastern Underwriters, where she commuted to work on the Atlanta trackless trolleys. She met her future husband, Richard Arthur Harrison, Sr., while he was in his senior year at Georgia Tech. He graduated in June 1948, and they were married the next day. He went to work for IBM, and together they moved to Mobile, Alabama. During his successful career the family lived in a variety of places, settling in Atlanta in 1972. Mrs. Harrison was a faithful member of Sandy Springs Christian Church from 1972 until her passing.

She was a devoted mother of three and a homemaker, who was actively involved in community charities. She played an important role in her children's lives as well as her grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s lives. She always had meaningful words of wisdom, a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. She never knew a stranger and made friends wherever she went. She loved to cook and was known for her famous pecan pie. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed playing often with friends. Mrs. Harrison was blessed with 93 years of a wonderful and vibrant life. She will be missed by her family and many friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard A. Harrison Sr., three of her siblings, Nolan Coffey, Gene Coffey, and Venice Kinter.

Surviving her are her brother, Johnny Coffey, her daughters, Lynn Harrison Hermann and Cindy Elizabeth Conner (Jeremy), and her son, Richard Arthur Harrison, Jr. (Kathleen). Her grandchildren, Richard Harrison III, Brent Harrison, Lindsay Boseman, Kristin Goin, Jason Gshwandtner, Jeff Gshwandtner and Matthew Stewart and 8 great grandchildren.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at Sandy Springs Christian Church, 301 Johnson Ferry Rd. NW. Sandy Springs, GA. 30328. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sandy Springs Christian Church.