Mr. Joe Lenze Harris

Joe Lenze Harris was a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather and uncle. He attended grade school in the Alabama Public Schools and started his career in the United States Air Force in January of 1963 in Brooklyn, NY. Joe was proud to serve his country and concluded his military career as an Illustrator and Letterer in April of 1972, under Honorable discharge at George Air Force Base, CA. Always eager to learn and achieve, Joe worked for years as a relator, notary , furniture salesman (Haynes Furniture & THE DUMP); custom cabinetry (Charles Yost Custom Cabinets); an office assistant (AARP Foundation); and as an accomplished musician, playing acoustic guitar and keyboards.

Joe is registered at the Library of Congress as a poet and song writer with 12 songs that  have been copyrighted at the Library of Congress with titles like  “To the Sky and Beyond” and "Everybody Pointing their Finger” which had to two version (a ballad/and an upbeat tempo)- this was a song inspired by all the things going on in the news, from politics to the economy; Joe Lenze was also an author of the narrative “Rock-n-Roll Cover Story”, “Mankind Just Doesn’t Get it” and the script “Naquanzi Warrior Angel”, a story about the daughter of an African Chief which takes place during a time of heavy slave trading and tribal warfare. 

Joe Lenze Harris passed in peace at his home in Newport News, Virginia on June 26, 2022 at the age of 77. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Jeanette French Harris, Willie Henry Jones (father), Dorothy Harris (mother), Cinnamon Harris (daughter) and Rhianna Harris (daughter), Rosalind Dancy (sister), Quay Austin (stepson), Tyisha granddaughter), and Twyla De’Zyer (great granddaughter). He is survived by his daughter Melissa Harris, stepchildren Twyla and Volant Austin, Tasha Dancy (niece), grandchildren Aris (Aria), Aaron & Alana Austin, Julie (Sierra, Zachariah, Xavier, Bishop) and Justin (Juleein, Jaceeon) and great grandchildren Christian, Johnny, Jerome, Jermaine, and Aujenay.

Joe will be deeply missed by family and fondly remembered by his friends and all who knew him as a prideful, strong-spirited man with an undying love for music, especially Rock and Roll. 

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