Elkin Mr. Robert C. Harris, age 80, of East Manor Ridge Road, passed away Monday, October 27, 2008 at Hugh Chatham Nursing Center. He was born on August 25, 1928 in Wilkes County to Samuel C. and Geneva Adams Harris. After 43 years he retired from Chatham Manufacturing Company in 1993. Beginning in the Worsted department, he later moved to Production Control where he was scheduling manager of the manufacturing area. Bobby Cotton Harris, as he was known to many, was a skilled athlete. At Elkin High School, he participated in baseball, basketball and football, lettering in all three sports. After graduating from high school, he played for the Chatham Blanketeers. In 1947-48, he pitched for the Blanketeers in the North State Semi-Pro League, winning fifteen out of the nineteen games. The Blanketeers won the district and the state championships sending them into national competition at Wichita, Kansas in the summer of 1948. The Chatham team finished as runners-up in the Semi-Pro National Baseball Championship. Cotton won two games, lost none. Later he signed with the New York Yankees and was assigned to the Norfolk, Virginia Double A League. In 1968 he received a trophy from the Wilkes Y.M.C.A Commercial League for having the highest average in bowling for the 1967-68 season. He served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman from 1950 to 1952 and was stationed in Germany for part of that time. He attended the University of North Carolina and was an avid supporter of Carolina Athletics and a member of the Ram's Club. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Edwina; a brother, Bill Lee Harris; and a grandchild, Brandon Matthew Harris. Survivors include: his wife, Frances Sprinkle Harris of the home; a daughter, Jane Jester of Lewisville; a son, Gerald David Harris and wife Cynthia of Virginia Beach, Virginia; three grandchildren, Patrick Harris of Virginia Beach, Michael Jester of Lewisville, Megan Marie Kennedy and husband Michael of Jonesville; one great granddaughter, Allyson Marie Kennedy of Jonesville; a sister, Pat Wiles and husband Woodie of Beaufort, NC; one niece and several nephews. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Elkin First Baptist Church by Rev. Rebecca Maynard. Burial will follow at Crestwood Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin. Mr. Harris will lie instate 30 minutes prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Elkin First Baptist Church, PO Box 618, Elkin, NC 28621. Online condolences may be made at www.hodgesfuneralhomeinc.com Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin is serving the Harris family.
