Judge Baker Harris

Judge Walter Baker HarrisA Memorial Service for Judge Walter Baker Harris will be held 3:00 P.M. Saturday, January 8, 2011 at Arrington Funeral Directors with Dr. Brent Lay officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 P.M. until time of the service.Judge Walter Baker Harris, 79, died Sunday, December 19, 2010 after Bypass Surgery at Jackson Madison County General Hospital. He was born July 10, 1931 in Jackson, TN son of the late Walter Baker Harris Sr. and Lenella Wallace Harris. He grew up in Jackson, attended Alexander Elementary School, Jackson Junior High, Jackson High School and graduated from Wharton High School in Wharton, TX. He completed his bachelor?s degree at Southwestern University (now Rhodes College) and received his law degree from the University of Tennessee in 1954. After four years of service in the United States Navy, Judge Harris returned to Jackson and practiced law in the firm of Schneider & Harris. He was appointed Jackson City Judge in 1967 and in 1971 also began serving as juvenile court referee. In 1972 he was elected County Judge of Madison County that includes duties of County Executive. He was elected to the new position of General Sessions Division II Judge in 1982, serving in this role until his retirement in 1998, at which time the court building was renamed the Walter Baker Harris Juvenile Court Building. He continued as a part time judge in Chester County, Madison County General Sessions Court and Jackson City Court.Judge Harris served as Chairman of the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, a member of the executive committee of the Tennessee Juvenile Judges Council, president of the Tennessee County Judges Association and the Tennessee County Services Association. He also spent many weekends working with his wife and others with Betty Y. Harris Estate Sales.He was preceded in death by his sister, Anne Harris Schneider.He is survived by his wife Betty Y. Harris; daughters Tucker Smith and Rhoda Smith; sons Patrick Youngblood and Mike Youngblood; niece Vicki Lake and several grandchildren.In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be directed to Jackson- Madison Co. Humane Society.Arrington Funeral Directors148 W. University Parkway731-668-111