SIKESTON -- A Sikeston pastor and veteran will be the honoree at upcoming 34th-year anniversary celebration of the Daughters of Sunset.
Set for 3 p.m. March 18 at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 127 S. Trotter St. in Sikeston, the program will honor Michael K. Harris Sr. of Sikeston. Guest speaker will be Paul Harris, minister, of Memphis, Tenn.
A life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the American Legion, Michael Harris Sr. was a member of the Missouri National Guard from May 1984 to January 2007 when he retired from the military service. He earned his rank of master sergeant, a Bronze Star Medal and the Iraqi Freedom Campaign Medal plus Combat Action Badge.
"Pastor Harris is truly a worker in his community where ehe is the second African-American to serve on the Sikeston City Council," said Mary White-Ross with the Daughters of Sunset.
Harris served nine years with one of those years being as at-large city councilman and eight as Ward 4 city councilman. He serves on the Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority Board; he has served on the following boards: Boar dog Municipal Utilities, Rental Appeals Board, Tourism Advisory Board, Strategic-Planning Board. Housing Authority Board, Higher Education Board, Planning and Zoning Board and SEMO Health Network Board.
Harris currently serves as the Foundation Board President for Southeast Missouri State University. He annually gives the Michael K. Harris Scholarship to a low-income SEMO student majoring gin the College of Health and Human Services, Social Work Department. Harries earned his Bachelor of Science in social work in 1984 and his master's degree in Human Services Administration in 2001 from Southeast Missouri State University.
Additionally, Harris is affiliated with the Sikeston Lions Club, Peaceful Lodge 181-Prince Hall Affiliate, Martin Luther King Day Planning Committee president, Business Research Institute Housing Development Corp. and Mission Missouri. He is the chair for Sikeston Area Ministerial Alliance, chair of Sikeston Habitat for Humanities and a member of Spread Hope Now.
Harris is married to Dr. Maude Harris, and their family includes Najawa, Brenda, Sloane, Michael "Kellar" and grandchildren, Brendan and Nylah. He is the founder and pastor of Open Door Fellowship Outreach Ministries, 204 Jackson St., in Sikeston.