Alther Harris

Alther “Queen B.” Harris
“A Woman of Distinction”
Alther B. Harris (“Muh”) was born on October 29, 1943, in Holly
Grove, Arkansas, to the proud parents of Henry Cox, Sr., and
Almeter Miller-Cox. As a youth and young adult growing up in
the 40s, 50s, and 60s, she saw and lived through her challenges of
being Black in a broken and hate-filled society; losing her mother
at the age of eight didn’t make things any better, but she persevered
despite the odds.
At the tender age of nineteen she met and later married Mr.
L. C. Harris and to this beautiful union were born seven sons and
six daughters (Lonza C. Harris, Jr., Donald E. Harris, and Baby
Sharon Elaine preceded her in death). She never stopped smiling
as she told the story of how deeply she loved and cherished her
husband and children. She truly honored God’s Word which says,
“Be fruitful and multiply…” She dedicated her life and love to
raising, fighting for, praying for, and meeting the needs of her
children (and so many others).
During the first few years of their lives, Alther B. and L.C.
lived in rural areas of southern Arkansas, where she did laundry
and her husband worked the fields. Southern living was not easy
and it wasn’t a place of racial equality. In 1971 the move was made
to Chicago’s Westside, and there the family remained until a tragic
fire took place in 1980 that destroyed everything that they owned.
After the fire, with such a large family, they found housing in the
Cabrini Green Housing projects, and this is where she remained
until the Lord allowed her to fall asleep only a few days ago.
“Muh” as we affectionately called her, surrendered her life
to Christ at an early age and she always taught her children to pray,
read God’s Word, and lend a helping hand to anyone in need. After
worshipping at King of All Nations M. B. Church, she begin taking
Bible Studies under the tutelage of Pastor Horace Jones and was
baptized into the Independence Boulevard Seventh Day Adventist
Church in 1974. She remained a faithful, loyal, and dedicated
member until her passing. Despite all that happened in her life,
in her family, on her job, and within the church itself, NOTHING
shook her faith to the point that she turned her back on God. Jesus
was her Anchor, Rock, Deliverer, and Strong Tower. Mom always
told (regarding death) that she wasn’t going anywhere until the
Lord said so, and when God said so there wasn’t anyone who could
do anything about it.
Alther “Queen B.” spent her life in service to her children,
grandchildren, great-grandchildren, husband, family, church
family, her community, and strangers (who became friends). She
lived on this planet as a “Woman of Distinction,” and she left that
legacy with us. She was a woman of strength, courage, and resilience
but more than anything she was a virtuous woman of faith.
Everyone knew that despite her quietude, she did not play. She was
a force to be reckoned with and even those in the neighborhood
were fully aware of this. Her love and compassion for others led
to life-long friendships with police officers, community members,
colleagues, and all who became a part of the “family circle.”
“Muh” aka “Ma Harris” (to her Cabrini Green and IBC
Families) was not shy in admitting that her greatest desire in life
was to fill her home with love, laughter, and lots of children. She
loved the company of others where she could talk, laugh, listen to
a variety of styles of music, and bask in time (spent right in her
living room, on her front or back porch, and in the playground
area behind her apartment) with those she knew, loved, and served.
Her tenderness and her toughness built a lasting legacy
of caring, compassionate, hard-working, and loving children,
grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family, and a
multiplicity of friends. She taught many the importance of
smiling through life’s storms, lending a helping hand, trusting
God no matter what, and finally meeting people right where they
were just as Jesus did when walked this earth. She met everyone
without criticism, condemnation, and self-righteousness. Alther
“Queen B.” lived life to the fullest with God on her side and the
knowledge that all who die in the Lord are only asleep until he
comes again and calls, “Alther B., my daughter, AWAKE.” May
we forever follow her example of being our brother and sister’s
keeper.
Alther B. Harris, a Woman of Distinction, took her rest
from the troubles of this world on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the
blessed age of eighty-two at 10:45 a.m. She lived and was cherished
by the following: ten children, Clarinda (Ralph), Patricia (James),
Valeria (Will), Nicolette (Paul), Deborah Jean, Darryl, Sabian,
Montrell, Cornelius, and Desmond (two sons and one daughter
preceded her in death along with her husband); sisters, Carrie Mae
and Ida Marie (Doris Jean, Iola, and Gertie Rose preceded her in
death along with her parents, Henry Sr. and Almeter); brothers,
Jerry and Keather Cox (Gene Edward and Henry Jr. preceded her
in death); and a host of grandchildren (one bonus grandson, Sam),
great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other extended
family, church family, Cabrini Green family, and life-long friends.
Our “Queen B.” now rests until Jesus’ return in the clouds
of glory, but in the meantime, let us look up and live forward with
hope and hold dear to our hearts her favorite passage of scripture
found in Job 14:14 which reads, “If a man die, shall he live again?
All the days of my appointed time will I wait, Till my change
come.” Let’s get ready everyone, and stay ready, so that we will be
able to meet Jesus’ face in peace.

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