Melvin L Harris Obituary

Melvin Leon Harris, Jr., was born June 17, 1930, to the late Melvin and Leona Harris, in Elbert, West Virginia. He departed this life on December 30, 2021, at his home, surrounded by his family and friends.

Melvin graduated from North Carolina A&T University, in Greensboro, NC, with his Bachelor of Science in education and obtained his Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. After college, he was drafted into the Army, where he served as part of the 3rd Division Army Band, at Fort Benning in Georgia. Melvin was married to Clara Harris and they reared two daughters, Denise and Belinda. He also was the father to two sons from a previous marriage, Melvin and Rodney.

After teaching in West Virginia and Virginia, Melvin retired from the Wicomico County School system, after 35 years of service. His first Band Director job in the county was prior to integration, at Salisbury High School, which consisted of all black students. Once Melvin found out that the black elementary and junior high school did not have a band program, he started teaching those students as well. After integration, and the opening of Bennett Jr. High School, Melvin accepted the Band Director position and spent the bulk of his career there. He eventually retired from Wicomico County, as the Band Director at four county elementary schools. Melvin also volunteered his time for many years, as the Assistant Band Director, at Wicomico Senior High School, directing and playing for the bands at the Salvation Army and at his church home and playing in the Salisbury Community Band.

Volunteering in the community was also important to Melvin. He was an instrumental part of the Wicomico Enterprise in Cultural and Recreational Enrichment (WE-CARE) program, which was a summer enrichment program for children from poverty homes.

Melvin was often called “The Music Man” because that was his true passion. His high school and junior high school bands had the opportunity to play in many concerts, parades and football games and often did a lot of traveling. Many of his students cherish the experiences they had being a part of his various band programs and state that he taught them so much more than just playing an instrument. Because of their appreciation, in 2015, his former students spearheaded the naming of the street, “Melvin Harris Way.” Melvin also received several other accolades from the Salisbury community over the years.

One of Melvin’s favorite hobbies was bowling, which he enjoyed with his wife. They were a part of a weekly league together and he was also instrumental in getting the first all-black bowling league started in Salisbury.

Melvin leaves to cherish many warm memories of his life with his daughters, Denise Harris-Coe and Belinda Harris, his sons, Melvin Shelton and Rodney Shelton, two grandsons Christian Coe and Markel Currie and his cousin, Wilhelma Cooper. He is preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Leona Harris, and his brother William Harris.

A public viewing will be held on Friday, at Holloway Funeral Home, from 6 pm – 8 pm. Services to celebrate the life of Melvin Harris will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Holloway Funeral Home in Salisbury MD. A public visitation will begin at 11:00 am, with a service honoring Melvin’s life to start at 12:00 pm. Melvin will be laid to rest at Springhill Memory Gardens.