John Courtenay Harry III

Published 6:16 pm Friday, November 26, 2021

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John Courtenay “Jack” Harry III, a lifelong resident of the Suffolk community, passed away on Nov. 24, 2021, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 85 years old.

Jack was predeceased by his oldest daughter, Margaret Heuberger, and his brother, the Honorable Blair Harry.

Jack Harry was born in Suffolk, on April 26, 1936, the son of Jack and Callie Harry. He graduated from Suffolk High School in 1954 and from Randolph Macon College in 1959. At Randolph Macon, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

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Mr. Harry served in the Air National Guard from October 1961 until August 1962. In August 1962, he received an honorable discharge from service.

He was employed by the Virginia Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Mr. Harry received his MAI designation from the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers on May 4, 1970, and entered into private practice as a real estate appraiser. He was in partnership with Theadore J. Economidis and later formed his own firm, John C. Harry Inc., which he ran from 1983 until his passing.

Mr. Harry served on the board of directors of First Savings of Suffolk, Commerce Bank and the State of Virginia Board of BB&T, from which he retired Dec. 31, 2006. Mr. Harry served for eight years on the State of Virginia Real Estate Appraisal Board, the last four years as the chair. He also served on numerous boards at the Suffolk Christian Church. His greatest passion in life was his family, wife (Billie), children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret Simons Harry, of Suffolk; a son, John C Harry IV and his wife, Jennifer, of Suffolk; daughters, the late Margaret Heuberger and her husband, Eric, of Suffolk, Elizabeth Leach and her husband, Duncan, of Winterville, North Carolina, Martha Young and her husband, Bert, of Suffolk, and Virginia Basnett and her husband, George, of Aydlett, North Carolina; two siblings, Betty H. Tarkington and late husband, Steve, of Franklin, and C. Thomas Harry and his wife, Carol, of Suffolk; a sister-in-law, Gin Staylor and her husband, Mills, of Suffolk, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Also left to cherish his memory are his greatly loved grandchildren, Zachary, Jackson and Ryleigh Harry, Ashley H. Price and her husband Billy, Heather Heuberger and fiancé, Jeffrey Knoll, Graves Leach and his wife Arielle, Lane Leach, Lindsey Young, Callie and George Basnett. Not to be forgotten, his beloved dog Elsie, who never left his side.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, at Suffolk Christian Church, 216 N. Main St. Suffolk, with the Rev. Michael Halley officiating followed by a reception. Following the reception, the burial will take place at Cedar Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Suffolk Christian Church, 216 N. Main St., Suffolk VA 23434. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home, Downtown Suffolk Chapel is serving the family.