Sydney A Harris

SYDNEY ASTLEY HARRIS

Sunrise: March 8, 1944          

Sunset: February 4, 2023

Sydney Astley Harris was born in Westmoreland the beautiful Island of Jamaica on March 8, 1944, to Mr. Edward Harris and Mrs. Olive Harris.  Sydney was the third of nine children, and they all had a pet name, Sydney’s pet name was “Blue.” One day the family was all together, and Sydney announced to all and said, “my name is Sydney and if anyone calls me anything else I will not be answering.” And with that all the siblings followed suit and dropped their pet names. As a child he was an ardent learner, very quiet, thoughtful, with little words. He had a passion for music and loved singing. The very first time he went to church and saw the organist on the organ, he was drawn to it and envisioned being an organist. the very first time he was to church and saw the organist on the organ. 

Sydney emigrated to England to be rejoined with his parents and siblings. There he started working in a company that made kitchen cabinets. It was there where he met Masie. 

When Masie later relocated to the U.S., Sidney shortly emigrated to be with her.

In New York he owned his own auto mechanic shop. There he not only worked on cars, but also worked on helping many people from all walks of life. He was a kind and compassionate person, bringing out the best with all whom he came in contact.  If he saw a need, he would try to fulfill that need regardless of who it was.  He loved his family, although he was not able to visit, he was always excited and happy when they would come and see him. 

From New York Sydney and Masie moved to Florida where they started a business. Sidney grew up with Christian values, but somewhere along the way he had focused on other priorities. Through conversations with his brother in-law Sil, and sister Gloria he regained the light of hope, and a new dawn arrived in his heart. Now Sydney started his spiritual journey with fresh and rejuvenated energy as he reconnected with God. And true to form he would not only think of himself, but wanted to connect others with His loving Saviour, and would passionately share the goodness of Christ to his customers and those he came in contact with. In 2001 it was a joyful moment when he was baptized as heaven rejoined with his loved ones on earth.

He worked at the business, which was not only a material venue, but also a spiritual business sowing seeds of the kingdom of heaven, until 2009 when he suffered a major stroke.  The doctors thought he would not have made it, and if he did, he would be in a vegetated state, but praise God divinity proved science wrong.  With all of Sydney’s adversities he did not give up hope in God, if anything it had made him stronger.  His favorite quote that he would always say is “Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”  Take from the text, Isaiah 25:9, “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Sadly, Sidney passed on February 4, 2023, leaving his wife Masie, who had cared for him during his illness, her family, five sisters, one brother, and many nieces and nephews. He is resting in the Lord, awaiting for that soon coming great day when we all together can rejoice in the Salvation of the Lord!

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