Phillip Blackmon Harris Sr.

Phillip Blackmon Harris, Sr. passed away peacefully on November 17, 2025 at Cadence in Wake Forest, NC.

Phil was born on December 9, 1936 in Whiteville, North Carolina. He was educated in the city schools of Fayetteville, NC, graduating in 1955 from Fayetteville High School, where he was a three-sport athlete and student body president. He graduated from Wake Forest College (now Wake Forest University) in 1959, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. After graduation he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army. He married the former Noel Karen Vossler on December 19, 1959, and the couple began their married life in Fort Benning, GA while Phil served in Army Intelligence.

Upon retirement from the Army, the young family moved back to Fayetteville, where Phil spent the majority of his career working with his father-in-law George Vossler and his brother-in-law Lew Lepper in the tire business at Corder­Vossler Company. Later in his career Phil worked for North Carolina Natural Gas Company until his retirement.

Phil was a lifelong member of Highland Presbyterian Church, serving at various times as a Deacon, Elder, Sunday school teacher, youth advisor, and Stephen Minister and was a member of the John M. Wilson Bible Class. He was also a longtime member of the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club, serving as club president, Division Lieutenant Governor, and Carolinas District Governor. He served on the community boards for the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, Southeastern

Speech and Hearing Clinic, American Red Cross and the Salvation Army and was on the founding board of the Fayetteville Academy. He was also involved with the March of Dimes and the United Way.

He is survived by his wife of 65+ years, Noel Vossler Harris; children: Phillip B. Harris, Jr. (Susie), William Noel Harris (Gigi), Barbara Harris Bond (Mark, d. 2021), and Samuel Wilton Vossler Harris (Jeanine); grandchildren: Phillip Blackmon Harris, III (Meredith), Spencer Adams Harris, Lillian French Harris, William Noel Harris, Jr., John Douglas Harris, Allen Harris Bond, Elizabeth Spencer Bond, Blake Samuel Harris, and Chase William Harris; brother Larry Hilliard Harris.

He is predeceased by his parents Wilton J. Harris and Hilda B. Harris; stepmother, Iola Hilliard Harris, brother, Wilton J. ("Sammy") Harris, Jr. and granddaughter Margaret Walsh Harris.

Contributions in Phil’s memory may be made to Highland Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, NC or to the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville Endowment Fund.

A service celebrating Phil’s life will be held on Saturday, November 22 at 2:00 p.m. at Highland Presbyterian Church, 111 Highland Avenue, Fayetteville, NC with a reception in the Fellowship Hall to follow.

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