Obituaries

Maxine Q. Harris, 75, of Martinsville, VA went to her heavenly home on Thursday, January 4th, 2024. She was in the care of her loving family in her family home.

Maxine was born on May 12th, 1948 in Martinsville, VA, to the late James Lemly and Edith (Boyd) Hancock. Maxine learned early on what it meant to take care of family and what hard work could accomplish. She grew up working alongside her parents and sisters in their family store on Hodges Farm road. Her family moved to Boykins, VA where she met her first husband and then gave birth to her two sons. She enjoyed dancing with friends and went on to meet the love of her life, remarried and gained another son and daughter. She attended Hill Memorial Baptist Church for many years and recently enjoyed gaining additional Church family at Collinsville Baptist Church. She worked, along with four of her sisters, at Fieldcrest for 42 years before their closing. After many many years of amazing home cooking, she decided to pursue a culinary degree. She then began her career at Stanleytown nursing home providing nourishing meals for many patients and then moved on to Magna Vista High School and served many students in their cafeteria, including three of her grandchildren, until she retired in 2016. She then enjoyed years of shopping, lunches and adventures with her sisters, cousins and friends. This is the way she lived her life, loving and caring for family and friends.

Maxine is survived by her husband of 48 years, Arley “Ted” Harris; her four children, Kenneth (Sharon) Quigg, Dennis (Shannon) Quigg, Charles “Chuck” Harris, and Amy Harris; her nine grandchildren, Jennifer (Jason) McNeill, Autumn Quigg, Kolby Quigg, Christen Quigg, Kasey Harris, Abby Harris, Heather (Patrick) Blankenship, Mary Kelsey, and Courtney Harris; her three great grandchildren, Will, Jameson, and Jessa; her sisters, Linda Doss, Bonnie Spence, and Kathy (Robert) Reed; her 12 nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters Thelma Via, Olene Chaney, Peggy Hatcher, and Inez Hancock.

After a long battle with cancer, it would be wrong to say that Maxine lost her battle because she never stopped fighting. No matter how sick she was, she was always determined. When many would have broken, Maxine stayed strong. She did this due to her love of her family, and through her, we know what perseverance, faith and love truly look like. We are grateful for her lessons in loving, helping and taking care of family and especially her strong opinions and straightforward advice. We know she is in a better place in Heaven, but she will be eternally missed as a beloved Wife, Mother, Granny, Sister, Aunt and Friend.

A service to celebrate her life will be held at Collins Funeral Home (Bassett, VA) on Monday January 8th, 2024. Visitation with the family will begin at 10:00AM and the service will begin at 11:00AM with the burial following at Roselawn.