Mattie Harrison

Mattie Lou Reeves Harrison, 94, of Birmingham, Alabama, peacefully passed away Thursday evening, February 22, 2024. She was born March 3, 1929, in Birmingham, AL, to Mary Frances and Shelley Vester Reeves.

Mattie Lou, affectionately known by her grandchildren and many others as Momma Lou, was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws Mr. & Mrs. Hubert O. Harrison, her sister Frances Reeves Killingsworth, her brother Charles V. Reeves, her granddaughter Mary Kathryn Harrison, and her husband of 62 years, Lt. Colonel James Welbourne Harrison.

Survivors include her children, Mary Ann Harrison Hancock (Steve, D.), Sandra Harrison Bolling (Alan), James Welbourne Harrison, Jr. (Tamara), Lisa Marie Harrison (Theo), Cheryl Harrison Tucker (Rick), 12 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 5 1/2 great-great grandchildren.

After being educated at Robinson Elementary School, Woodlawn High School, and Paul Haynes School, Mattie Lou became a devoted stay-at-home-mom raising her five children. She was a skilled seamstress, providing services for many years to friends and family. Later, she worked as a Day Care employee for 3 years at East Lake Methodist Child Development Center, and then became a Bank Teller for Compass Bank where she retired in 1996 after 20 years of service. Mattie Lou was an active member of East Lake United Methodist Church, the ABC Sunday School class, and sang in the Sanctuary Choir for many decades. She really knew how to enjoy life and had many passions including cooking, sewing, working 1,000-piece puzzles, baking pound cakes, and crocheting gifts for her family and friends. She made afghan-blankets and scarves for the UMW international missions, local outreach shelters for the homeless and preemies at local hospitals. Giving back to others brought her so much joy. Mattie Lou truly had a servant's heart. Her love for music included attending Gospel quartette singings and conventions, hearing Bing Crosby in White Christmas, the Beatles, Big Band music and the organ at ELUMC.

Mattie Lou kept herself active by attending line dancing classes at Trussville's Senior Center and playing bingo. She continued being socially active while living at Saint Martin's in the Pines. She was a best friend and cheerleader to more than we know, especially to her family. She loved cheering for the Crimson Tide and watching Atlanta Braves baseball. Mattie Lou treasured her time spent with family and friends during the holidays, birthdays, and church functions. What a blessing to be loved by Mattie Lou Harrison.

Services will be held in the Sanctuary at East Lake United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 3, at 2:00 pm., Rev. Sallie Allocca, officiating. Visitation with family/friends will be from 1:00pm to 2:00pm in the Parlor at East Lake Methodist Church. The family will proceed to Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville for interment. The family requests memorials be made to East Lake United Methodist Church, 7753 1st Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35206 or the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (www.aidb.org, Mary Kathryn Harrison Fund) in honor of Mattie Lou Harrison.