Obituary - GERALDINE "GERI" HARRIS

Geraldine “Geri” Halperin Harris, age 88, of Northport, Alabama, passed away at the Huntercreek Nursing and Rehab Center in Northport on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015. Mrs. Harris was born in Dublin, Georgia, on Oct. 24, 1926, to the late Philip and Celia Greenberg Halperin. She grew up in Fitzgerald, Ga., with her brother and sisters, Sammy and Florence and Jeanette, where the family belonged to the Fitzgerald Hebrew Congregation. She attended the University of Georgia where she met her first husband, Ed Ember. They moved back to Fitzgerald both working in the family store, Halperin’s, and had two sons.

Following her divorce from Ed, she moved to Atlanta and met and married Leonard Harris, affectionately known as “Papa Len” who predeceased her, after a long and happy marriage. Geri and Len relocated to Savannah where both worked as sales reps for several jewelry companies. They moved to the Orlando area from Savannah in the early 1970s and then Mrs. Harris relocated to Tuscaloosa to be closer to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in 2000. She was welcomed and included in all things McGee, her extended family.

While living in Orlando, the family were members of Temple Israel.

Mrs. Harris is survived by her children David (Elisa) Ember of Cottondale, Ala., and Steve (Jan) Ember of Atlanta. She is also survived by four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; her sister, Jeanette Litt; sister-in-law, Helen Halperin; brother-in-law, Bernie Gillman; and nine nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held at Temple Israel Cemetery with Rabbi Maurice Kaprow officiating. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 640 Lee Road, Orlando 32810.