Ivan McKinley Harris

Ivan McKinley Harris entered into eternal rest on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Richmond, VA. He was born June 3, 1933, on Brandon Plantation, in Prince George's County, Virginia. He is preceded in death by his parents, Willie Anna Harris and John Brown, devoted grandfather Bob Harris, first wife Carrie Harris, and his sisters, Mary Gibbs and Joyce Alexander.

Ivan was the oldest of four children and took the job of being the big brother of his three younger sisters with pride. At a very young age, he began working on farms and providing for his siblings. In 1952, at the age of 18, he went to work at the Newport News Shipyard as a day laborer. As he aged, that hard work and dedication pushed him to build his family home brick by brick in Charles City, VA. While working at the Shipyard, he quickly worked his way up, joining the apprenticeship program to become a master pipefitter, later retiring in 1995. During that time, he remarried to the love of his life, Vera Harris, and went on to have his greatest accomplishment, his son, born in 1971. Ivan adored being a father, husband, and man of God. Baptized in the Church of Christ in Hopewell, VA, he served many years as a song-leader before becoming a deacon at the Church of Christ in Williamsburg. 

Throughout Ivan’s 92 years old, you could find him busy gardening or tinkering. He always seemed to know how to fix what was broken and was known to be called upon, day or night, to help friends and neighbors repair things. As if that wasn't enough, he was an avid hunter and fisherman. Ivan spent every moment thinking, preparing, dreaming, and reminiscing about his time out on the land with the hunt club, his dogs, and his son. Fishing and hunting weren’t just a hobby to Ivan; it was his life. It allowed him to connect with his friends and provide for his family.

He leaves behind his loving and faithful wife of fifty-five years, Vera E. Harris; son, Ivan S. Harris and his wife, Amy; two grandsons, Je’Von Johnson and Levi Harris; granddaughter, MaryElaine Harris; sister, Evelyn Jones; and a host of other loving nieces, nephews, and friends.

A service to celebrate Ivan's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 20, 2026, at Whiting's Funeral Home.  Interment to follow in Williamsburg Memorial Park.

Professional services have been entrusted to the staff of Whiting's Funeral Home, 7005 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185. 757-229-3011 whitingsfuneralhome.com

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