Reverend Ira Lee Harper, Jr

Obituary For Reverend Ira Lee Harper, Jr

Mr. Ira Lee Harper passed. Celebration of Life will be Monday, June 17, 2019 at 11:00am. Shy Temple C.M.E. Church 2012 Memorial Dr., Atlanta GA. 30317. Interment will follow Resthaven Cemetery Grissom-Clark Funeral Home.

Reverend Ira L. Harper Jr. slept into eternity on the afternoon of June 10th surrounded by his family. He was born on October 31st 1936 to the late Rev. Ira L. Harper Sr and Esther M. Williams-Harper in Phenix City, Ala. He was the eldest of nine siblings; two brothers preceding him in death, Rev. William Michael Harper and Timothy Sherman Harper. Ira affectionately known as ''bro'' and ''Uncle Bud'' was educated in the Chicago Public Schools and later obtained credentials from Kennedy-King College and The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. He was licensed to preach in 1975 under Rev. Dotcy I. Isom, Jr. Ira married his childhood sweetheart Betty Jean Collier-Harper on September 15th 1955. He was enlisted in the United States Air Force where he was a Military Police and spent a considerable amount of time in Korea from 1954-1957. After his military experience he came home and was employed by ''Ditto" and then Sherwin Williams for over 25 years where he eventually retired from the sister plant "Nalco Chemical Plant" here in Jonesboro, GA. He was also employed by Clayton County Sheriff Dept until his health failed him. He and his lovely wife Betty were members of 'NAARVA' (National African American Recreational Vehicle Assoc) where they spent time traveling to many places going as far as Arizona in their RV. Many that knew him knew traveling was one of his passions. Rev. Ira L. Harper touched many lives through his preaching and teaching. He had a melodious voice in which him along with his dad, brothers and son had a quartet group. Ira was the Pastor of many churches; Murchison Temple C.M.E. Church (Chicago, IL), Jones Tabernacle C.M.E. Church (Macon, Ga), Midway C.M.E Church, Rocky Mount C.M.E. Church and Mt Olive C.M.E. Church (Macon/Barnesville District), Israel Temple C.M.E. Church (Jackson, Ga.) Sardis C.M.E. Church (Monticello, Ga.). Ira also became the father and extended family of many. He is survived by his Queen of over 64 years Betty Jean Collier-Harper; children, Ira L. Harper III (Tonya), Rev. Yvonne Harper-McCoy (Timothy); his spiritual children, Rev. Veronica Smith (Dulles), Crystal Cook (Chris), Jeffrey Hobbs (Shonta) and Frankie Jamison (Beverly); brothers, Edward L. Harper (Jonesboro, Ga), Theodore C. (JoAnn) Harper (Chicago, IL), and Wayne W. Harper (McDonough, Ga); sisters, Joanne D. Marlowe (Chicago, IL), Brenda M. Harper (Chicago, IL), and Pamela E. (Paul) Wordlaw (Westmister, IL); sister-in-law, Mary-Anna Palmore (Chicago, IL); grandchildren, Anithia LaVonne Passmore (Ronvordoe), Dionjay Coleman (Monique) and Vernitia V. McCoy; great grandchildren, Alexus McKnight, Jordan McKnight, Kennedi McKnight, Aniyah McCoy, Amiyra McCoy, Timothy-DuWayne McCoy, Diamond Coleman and Dominque Coleman; great great grandchildren, Harmony Nicole McKnight and Kameron DeShawn Davis; aunts, Mary Helen Parker and Juanita H. Smith; uncle, Joseph Harper; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.