Joan Barrington Harris

Joan Barrington Harris was born May 17, 1934, in Harlem Hospital in Manhattan, New York, to the late Winfield Robert and Emma Thomas Barrington. She passed away at the age of 91 on Thursday, July 10, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.

Joan was a lifelong learner who graduated from the New York City Public School system and earned her registered nurse degree from St. John Nursing School in Brooklyn, New York. Years later, she returned to school and earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Park University and her master’s in Social Work from Ashland Theological Seminary.

In 1965, Joan and her sons moved to Columbus, Ohio where she pursued her medical career in various roles such as a labor and delivery nurse at St. Ann’s Hospital, an alcohol and drug counselor at Talbot Hall (formerly St. Anthony Hospital, now OSU East) and manager of the high blood pressure treatment program at Neighborhood House. In 2008, she retired as a licensed social worker from Amethyst Inc., a drug counseling and housing program for women.

Joan was a warm and loving lady who enjoyed hosting luncheons in her home with friends and sharing dinners with her family. She enjoyed going from store to store in shopping malls and having lunch at a restaurant afterwards. She could always find something amusing to say or do that would bring a smile or lighten the mood.

Throughout her life, Joan always shared the good news of Jesus with whoever she encountered.

Joan loved the Lord and loved her church, Rhema Christian Center, where she was an ordained minister and teacher. Joan touched many lives through her prayers, encouragement, counsel, words of wisdom, and correction.

However, Joan did not limit her ministry work to the confines of a church building.

In 1980, Joan was a part of the initial planning committee of the Raah Prayer Breakfast meetings that were held from 1980 to 1989, reaching 75 to 200-plus women monthly. She was known for her unique styles of teaching on various ways of “giving” during offering, through movement, joyfulness, and praise. Additionally, from 1982 to 1990, Joan served as a counselor, teacher, and intercessor at the Raah Residential Home for Hurting Women (known as the RAAH

HOUSE). Her love for people, her transparency in speaking the truth, and her words of wisdom will always be remembered by the many lives she touched.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Winfield and Emma Barrington; brother Robert (Mary) Mayo, sisters Frances (Byron) Harris and Phyllis (Timothy) Ward; sons Elliot Harris and Jeffrey Harris, and nephews Bob and John Mayo.

Joan is survived by her grandchildren Chenelle Jones, Chevonne Harris, and Winfield Harris, daughter-in-law Debra Shanklin, nieces Eloise Morris, Ruth (Roger) Hudson, Stephanie Ward, Jennifer Ward, Victoria (Terrence) Ward Corbin, Melinda (Ken) Huss, and a host of great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition, she will be lovingly remembered by her many friends, spiritual sons and daughters, and honorary grandchildren.