Lucille Harris
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Lucille Spicer Harris, age 87, passed away peacefully on Friday May 23rd, in Raleigh, North Carolina, after a brief battle with cancer. A devoted civil servant, registered nurse, Air Force reservist, ground breaker, and caregiver, Lucille leaves behind a legacy of compassion, service, love, and unwavering dedication to her family.
Lucille was born on August 18, 1937, in Wilmington, North Carolina, to the late Edward Spicer and the late Hannah Newkirk Hall Spicer. She was also the goddaughter of the late Lula Clemmons (affectionately known as Mother Dear). Lucille was raised in a Christian home and was active in the church at a young age. She loved to sing, she loved music, and she loved to Polka! Lucille (often called Cille by her friends and family) graduated from Williston Senior High School, which first served as a high school for freed slaves and later became the first accredited high school for Black students in the state of North Carolina.
After high school, Lucille attended the Community Hospital School of Nursing, also in Wilmington, North Carolina. She received her nursing diploma in 1958 and received her RN designation from the North Carolina Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education in 1959. In 1961, Lucille was commissioned into the United States Air Force Reserves (Nurse Corps) at the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Lucille was also a certified American Red Cross instructor.
After her military service, Lucille continued to serve as a civil servant with the VA Medical Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina for many years. After retiring from the VA, she decided to reinvent herself by going back to school. Lucille received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Fayetteville State University in 1981. After graduation, she worked for Cumberland County in Adult Services. where she was known for her integrity, leadership, and tireless work ethic. Her colleagues admired her as a mentor and role model, always ready to lend a helping hand or a listening ear. Her dual roles in civilian and military nursing showcased her exceptional skill and resilience.
Outside of her professional life, Lucille was an active member of the Spring Lake Neighborhood Watch and a member of Spring Lake Missionary Baptist Church. Her warmth, kindness, and spunky spirit touched everyone she met. Lucille believed in being sharp, looking sharp, and putting her best foot forward, and she encouraged those around her to do the same. She also believed in family and faithfully attended family reunions, special events in North and South Carolina, until her husband’s health began to fail.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Levy Harris, USAF TSgt (Ret), siblings, Edward Hall and James Shaw, Evelyn Hall, Hannah Jane Sidberry, Celeste Hall, Charles Spicer, Edward Spicer Jr., Pauline Spicer, and Catherine Starke.
Lucille is survived by her daughter, Dr. Wanda H. Pemberton (Darryl); one sister-in-law, Allie Harris; one brother-in-law, Albert Sidberry; two grandsons, Darrell Pemberton, Jr. (Kym) and Damar Pemberton; one great-granddaughter, Daliyah Pemberton; special nieces, Carol Williams (John), Emily Peoples (Jeff), Lucille Benjamin (Cedric), and Mona Hankins (Roderick); dear friends, George Graves, Velda Holmes, and Patricia Robinson and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and friends.
A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 PM on May 30th at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, with interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery. Lucille’s life was a testament to the power of service, compassion, resilience, and dedication. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.