Carolyn Midkiff Harris

Carolyn Ann Midkiff Harris, RN, BSN

05 November 1939 – 26 December 2025

  Carolyn Midkiff Harris was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on December 26, 2025, at PruittHealth Center in Harrisburg, North Carolina, where she was undergoing rehabilitation from a stroke. She was 86 years old.

  Carolyn was the daughter of Dixie Columbus and Willie Aileen Davis Midkiff, born on November 5, 1939, in Mount Airy, Surry County, North Carolina.

  She moved to Concord, North Carolina, in 1943 and graduated from Concord High School. She attended Cabarrus Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, graduating as a registered nurse as part of the Class of 1960. She later attended Wingate University where she graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1992.

  She married the love of her life, Thomas Grier "Tom" Harris Sr., on September 17, 1960. They lived for the first few years of marriage on Spring Street in Concord, then moved to Harrisburg, where she settled into the home she happily lived in for the remainder of her life.

   After earning her license to practice nursing, she started working at Cabarrus Memorial Hospital but paused her career to raise two children. Years later, she returned to nursing and held many administrative positions, eventually becoming director of nursing at Pathways Home Care in Concord where, at one time, she supervised more than four hundred employees. She retired from Pathways Homecare at 61 years old.

  She and Tom led a happy life together built on their strong faith and created a warm, loving environment for her family, friends, and neighbors.

  She was predeceased by her husband, Tom, and her brother, Richard Allen Midkiff, and by her parents, Willie Aileen Davis Midkiff and Dixie Columbus Midkiff, and J.W. and Winnie Hill Jessup, with whom she lived for many years with her mother and siblings.

  She is survived by her son, Thomas Grier Harris Jr., his partner, Kathy Stratton and son Matt; her daughter, Winnie Ellen Harris Williams, and her husband, David Williams; her 4 grandchildren: Thomas Grier Harris III, Sarah Olivia Harris, Gabriel Ellis Harris Mann (formerly Newton) and his wife, Cristiana Mann, and Chloe Carolyn Newton. She has two great-grandchildren: Benjamin Grier Porter and Alora Juniper Harris Byrd. She is also survived by many additional family members including nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

  Carolyn was deeply involved with her church and her community. She taught Sunday School and Youth Group throughout her life, first at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Concord, then at Harrisburg Presbyterian Church, Covenant Church of Harrisburg and New Harvest Church of Harrisburg.

  She served as a den mother (with Tom as cub master) of Cub Scout Pack 173, based at Harrisburg Presbyterian Church. She volunteered many years as room mother in her children’s elementary school classrooms and as a high school band booster.

  While home with her children, she attended a cake decorating class at Central Piedmont Community College in order to bake and decorate cakes for elderly members of the community for holidays and special occasions throughout the year. Her pièce de résistance was a three-tiered wedding cake for her nursing school roommate and lifelong friend, June.

  When her daughter wanted to remarry, Carolyn became an ordained minister so she could perform this special service. Her daughter and husband could think of no one they knew who was closer to God than her mother.

  She never wanted to leave conflict or sorrow unresolved. Somehow, she usually would find a way to help people to find common ground and leave unpleasant situations with a smile.

  Carolyn loved snowy days with snow cream, deer sightings and horses. Each one would make her exclaim, “Oh, how beautiful!” She never lost her childlike sense of wonder and joy.

  Carolyn was known for her infectious laugh, her mischievous smile, and her penchant for adventures, which usually involved her friends and family and anyone else she could enlist in exploring and experiencing the world around her. She took her children and grandchildren to watch the creeks overflow during storms, so that they wouldn't be afraid of storms and flooding; to cemeteries to enjoy the peaceful surroundings, lovely flowers and beautiful sculptures, or to just drive down an unknown road to see what could be discovered because she had never been there before. She loved making new friends and, as they say, “never met a stranger.”

  She was an avid reader and read widely and deeply on many varied and diverse topics. It was not unusual to call her in the morning, only to find out that she hadn't gone to bed after starting a new book. This was a commonplace occurrence even up until a few weeks before her death.

  At the time of her passing, she attended The Burg Church in Harrisburg and especially enjoyed her time with the “Aged to Perfection” group and the cups of coffee lovingly brought to her on Sundays. She was a devout prayer group member.

  She taught her children and grandchildren to find beauty and joy in the simple things around them and to remain aware of the power and grace of the Almighty.

  Carolyn was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who was absolutely adored and will be sincerely missed every single day, hour and minute from now on.

  We love you, dearest Mom and Mawmaw.

  Funerary Arrangements: January 9, 2025

  Visitation will take place from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Hartsell Funeral Home in Harrisburg, N.C., followed by a service from 1-2 p.m. in the Hartsell Funeral Home Chapel. A brief graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. at Carolina Memorial Park, Harrisburg, N.C. The family will meet privately afterward, from 3-5 p.m.