Jackson County Supervisor Melton Harris Jr. laid to rest

Many gathered at the Jackson County Civic Center to lay to rest Jackson County Supervisor Melton Harris Jr.

Harris was first elected to the board in 2008, representing Moss Point and parts of Pascagoula, and was serving as the board’s president at the time of his death.

Harris served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era, earning an honorable discharge and later retired from the Chevron Refinery in 1999.

Friends, family members, and colleagues all shared stories about the smart, hardworking, and selfless person Harris was. When Harris was not out serving the community, he enjoyed hunting and photography. Moss Point Mayor Billy Knight said, “Supervisor Harris was a friend of mine. It is a terrible loss for Moss Point, because we had a meeting in my office the morning before he passed away when we were talking about all the plans he had for Moss Point. That’s why I say the people will never know what a tremendous loss it is for Moss Point because he loves Moss Point, loved the people of Moss Point, and he always wanted to do everything he could for Moss Point. Me being elected was an opportunity for him to do the kind of things that he always wanted to do and it’s too bad that he is not going to be able to see it happen. Of course, we are still going to work hard with the supervisors and his wife Portia to make these things happen so we still got hope that we will get things done in his name. I want to honor him by getting as much done as we can the things he wanted to do.”

Melton Harris Jr. leaves behind his wife, three children, and six grandchildren.