Obituary of Charles Goodwin Harris, Jr.

Charles Goodwin Harris, Jr. of 218 West 5 Notch Road, North Augusta, South Carolina formerly of 11th Street, Augusta, Georgia died on October 2, 2023, at Pruitt Healthcare, North Augusta. 

Charles was born on March 13, 1940, in Augusta, Georgia to the late Charles G. and Eula Safrit Harris. He was preceded by his wife Mattie Holloway Harris and survived by one son, Charles G Harris III (Juliette Ford-Harris), one daughter, Frances Harris Rhodes both of Augusta, Georgia, one sister, Barbara Harris Summers, Flint, Michigan, one stepdaughter, Karen Wheeler Virginia Beach, Virginia, three grand-children, Joshua and Hannah Rhodes, Augusta, Georgia; Shawn Allen Bailey Virginia Beach, Virginia: 12 step-grandchildren, six step great-grandchildren, a very, very close cousin, the Reverend Juliette Harris Curry of Ninety Six, South Carolina and a host of cousins, nieces and friends.

Charles joined the historic Springfield Baptist Church family under the leadership of the Reverend C. K. Steele at a very early age. Charles attended the schools of Richmond County, Georgia starting at Haines Normal and Industrial Institute 1946 to 1949: Charles T. Walker Elementary School 1949-1954: Lucy Craft Laney High School 1954-1958: Summer school at Paine College 1958 Augusta, Georgia: South Carolina State College Orangeburg, South Carolina: The University of Georgia School of Graduate Studies Athens, Georgia. While at South Carolina State College, Charles was elected to the Who’s Who in American College and Universities in 1962: The Psi Omega Dramatic Honor Fraternity 1961: Charles also pledged the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. During his years in college, he became a member of the following organizations: SCLC, Core, and the NAACP.

On May 23, 1961 as a freedom writer on one of two buses, Charles was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, for trying to use a white restroom by Jackson police. Charles served in the United States Army and the United States Army Reserves, reaching the rank of E8, with MOS, 94-50 Bravo. He was a dining room facility manager and was at one time the manager of eight dining facilities. During his military career, Master Seargent Harris was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (two awards), the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, (two awards), and the Soldiers Medal. Charles was appointed permanent trustee for life in the Non-Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America in 1979; elected to Who’s Who in the food service industry, 1982 to 1983 and 1985 to 1986; member for life in the National Restaurant Association, 1981; member of the Press Photographers of America; member of the Universal Free and Accepted Mason’s New Era, Inc. (Eureka Grand Lodge); member of the Peace Officers Standards and Training Association of Georgia (POST); A Paid-Up-For-Life (PUFL) member of the American Legion, Post 71, North Augusta, South Carolina;

Charles worked in the food services industry in Augusta, Georgia, as manager of Red Lobster Seafood Restaurant; The food service manager at Augusta Technical Institute; area manager of Winnie King Restaurants in Richmond and Columbia County, Georgia; In 2005, Charles retired as director of food services from the Lighthouse Care Center, Augusta, Georgia after three and a half years due to health problems. Charles served on the board of the Georgia Carolina Council for the Boy Scouts of America: Charles was the host coordinator and founder of the daily radio talk show “The Voice of The People” on WTHB Radio, 1971-1974. He was the Augusta editor of the Atlanta Voice Weekly Newspaper: Editor of the Augusta Mirror, a weekly newspaper: The Managing Editor of “The Augusta News – Review Weekly” The Publisher/Editor of the “Augusta Voice”, a Harris-owned publication for 15 years.

Charles served as a staff photographer for Paine College from 1971 to 1975. In 1968 he was a candidate for the Augusta Second Ward City Council seat. In 1971, he ran as a candidate for the Richmond County Board of Education. Mr. Harris was president at the COO of Harris Catering and Banquet Service of Augusta, Georgia from 1976 to 2000. Mr. Harris served as Chief Poll Manager for Augusta Richmond County’s 113th Voting District – Dyess Park for over 30 years before moving to North Augusta, South Carolina in 2006. Charles served as a Secretary of the Richmond County Democratic Committee for a number of years.

Memorial services with military honors will be held on Friday, October 27, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia, SC 29229. 

South Carolina Cremation Society is assisting the family. Family and friends may sign the online guest book by clicking on the “Tribute Wall” tab above.