Robert Lee Harris Sr.

Robert L. Harris, Sr., passed away on March 2, 2023, in Williamsburg, Virginia. Bob was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina, on December 27, 1935, to Sallie L. and James M. Harris. He is survived by his wife, Audrey Murray Harris; their children, Robert L. Harris, Jr. (Judy) of Richmond, VA, and Laura Harris Chesnut (Blair) of Durham, NC; and beloved grandchildren, James. B. Chesnut, Robert L. Harris, III, Benjamin L. Chesnut, and Kathryn S. Harris.

After graduating from Cradock High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1954, Bob became an independent door-to-door salesman and distributor for the Saladmaster Company. He was successful enough to pay tuition to the College of William and Mary, earning an Economics degree in 1962. He then attended Wake Forest School of Law, graduating in 1964.

Bob served in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1964 to 1967 before opening his law practice in Richmond, Virginia, with a former business colleague. In 1982, he was appointed to the Richmond General District Court and, in 1984, to the Circuit Court where he served a term as Chief Judge. In 1995, he joined the McCammon Mediation Group, where he was a gifted mediator until his retirement in 2013. Bob was a member of several legal groups and River Road Church, Baptist.

Bob is also survived by a brother, Wilbur C. Harris (Nancy) in Ohio and a sister, Dorothy H. Lockwood (Thad) in Georgia. He was preceded in death by three siblings, Joseph E. Harris, Eleanor H. Mullen, and James M. Harris.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at River Road Church, Baptist, 8000 River Road, Richmond, VA. In lieu of flowers, persons wishing to make a memorial contribution may consider the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, River Road Church Minister's Fund or the College of William & Mary Endowment Fund.