Bishop James Sylvester Harris

Bishop James Sylvester Harris transitioned on February 21, 2023. There will be a viewing at the mortuary on Friday, March 3, from 5:00PM-7:00PM. 

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 4, 10:00AM, at Philippian Community Church, 7578 New Kings Road, Jacksonville, FL 32219.

Bishop James Sylvester Harris was born to Mary Elizabeth Green Aggie and George Allen Harris in Everettville, West Virginia on February 4, 1938. He attended grade school in Grant Town, WV and completed high school in Fairmont, WV. Bishop Harris completed course work at Edward Waters College, Jones College, and Progressive Theological Seminary, all of which are in Jacksonville, Florida. Bishop Harris enlisted in the U. S. Navy at the age of 17 and retired in 1974 as an Aviation Navy Chief E7. He also worked 19 years for Sears and retired from the company in 1993. Bishop Harris received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior when he was eight years old and rededicated his life in 1974. He accepted his call to ministry and obtained his Minister’s License in 1990. He joined Philippian Community Church under the leadership of the late Bishop Lawrence Charles Callahan, Sr. With Bishop Callahan’s blessings, Bishop Harris served as the assistant to the late Pastor Isaiah Johnson for seven years. He was ordained an Elder in 1996. After seeking counsel from Bishop Callahan, Bishop Harris founded Kingdom Ministries in the same year, where he faithfully served twenty-seven years. His ministry includes regular Sunday Services and Bible Study. He served seven facilities in Nassau and Duval Counties. His primary facility was Jacksonville Rehab Nursing Home. His election to the office of “Bishop” took place in 2007 by Bishop Virgil Calvin Jones, Sr. and the Board of Bishops of Philippi Koinonia. With this consecration, Bishop Harris was granted the Blessedness of Apostolic Succession.

Bishop Harris was preceded in death by his parents; his sons: David Lucas and Henry Brown, Jr.; and his sisters-in-law: Alise Scott and Edie Aikels. He leaves to cherish his precious memories: his loving and devoted wife, Elder Jacqueline Kelly Harris; daughters: Mary Ann Johnson, Dana Devine, Dionne (Adon) Ben-Yisrael and Donna (Kenneth) Reid; sisters: Janie Carter (Robert) Williams and Rosemary Carter; sister-in- law: Betty (Robert) Tolen; brothers-in-law: Gerald (Jacquelyn) Kelly, Clinton (Vickey) Dezeurn; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Fairmont, West Virginia families: Sonja Murphy, Alia Carter, Antwain Carter, Sr. and Aron Carter; goddaughter, Sheila Folks; fourteen grandchildren; six great grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews, along with numerous other family members and friends.

Bishop also leaves to his legacy in ministry, his Spiritual sons and daughters: Apostle Alexie R. (Nickey) Kelly, Bishop Reginald (Donna) Chever, Pastor Thaddeus (Estrella) Hendricks, Pastors Oscar (Connie) Coleman, Apostle Demetric (Vashti) Cole, Pastor Robert (Sandra) Young and Pastors Otha (Deborah) Coleman.

Interment – Full Military Honors
Monday - March 6, 2023 – 11:00am
Jacksonville National Cemetery – Lane 2

4083 Lannie Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32218

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