Celebrating 28 Days of Black Excellence. Past and Present: Ocie Harris

Throughout the month of February, The Courier Eco Latino honors Black History Month by spotlighting one local African American leader—past or present—each day. The series features trailblazers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists, advocates, and unsung heroes whose contributions have helped shape the soul, strength, and future of our community.

These are stories that may not always make headlines, but make a difference every day. From classrooms to boardrooms, from pulpits to protest lines, from small businesses to grassroots movements, each honoree reflects resilience, leadership, and service rooted right here at home.

With $100 in her pocket and what she described as unshakable faith, Ocie Harris (1918-1994), opened the doors of what would become one of Columbus’ most enduring ministries to the poor.

Born in 1918 as the youngest of 13 children, Harris spent her early working years in a cotton mill in Opelika, Alabama, where she labored for 15 years before transitioning into health care as a nurse’s aide at a Lee County hospital. In 1976, she relocated to Columbus — a move that would ultimately define her life’s mission and reshape the city’s response to homelessness and hunger.

In 1977, Harris founded the House of Mercy in a modest storefront on Broadway. Armed with limited financial resources but a deep conviction that “people ought to help people,” she began serving meals and offering assistance to those in need. As the ministry grew, it relocated to the former Woodall School on Third Avenue, expanding its reach and solidifying its place as a cornerstone of community outreach in South Georgia.

Over the years, House of Mercy has provided food, shelter, clothing, medical assistance and educational services to thousands of individuals and families experiencing hardship. The organization has served well over one million meals and has delivered Christmas gifts and essential resources to children across the region.

Though she received numerous awards and recognitions, Harris consistently deflected praise. “I tell you,” she often said, “the Lord has had a hand in everything I touch; ain’t God good?”

Known affectionately throughout Columbus as “Mother Harris,” she became both a caregiver and a moral compass for the community. Her voice frequently challenged civic leaders, church members and neighbors alike to confront poverty not with indifference, but with compassion and action.

Harris’ legacy extends beyond the meals served or buildings occupied. It lives in the volunteers who continue her work, the families stabilized through outreach, and the countless individuals who found dignity in a warm plate of food and a welcoming smile.

When she died in 1994, Columbus lost a humanitarian whose faith was matched only by her determination. Nearly five decades after its founding, House of Mercy remains a living testament to her belief that service is not charity — it is responsibility.

In a city shaped by many leaders, Ocie Harris stands among its quiet giants — a woman who transformed $100 and a prayer into a ministry that continues to feed both body and soul.