Obituary of Valerie Darlene Harris

Valerie Darlene (McKinney) Harris of Willingboro, New Jersey, departed this life on October 19, 2014 at Samaritan Hospice in Mt Holly, NJ after a courageous and lengthy battle. Val as she was affectionately known, was born on March 16, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the second of seven children born to Dorothy (McKinney) Rivera. She was preceded in death by her oldest brother Steven McKinney. Valerie graduated from Edgewood High School in Winslow Township NJ and continued her education in Electronics and received several certifications as an Electronics Technician. She had a remarkable career at Lockheed Martin where she later retired after many years of employment. Valerie was baptized at the Cathedral of Love Baptist Church in Willingboro. She was a woman of faith, believing in the power and strength of Christ’s love and the beauty and peace that would await her one day. Valerie loved spending time with her family and friends enjoying good food, music, and dancing; her beautiful smile would light up a room. As a loving and devoted mother, she doted on her children and grandchildren with whom she dedicated much of her time and energy. She took the meaning of family to heart and very seriously! When she loved you, you knew and felt it. She was clearly the anchor and matriarch of her immediate family and her contributions to it are deemed irreplaceable! Her last days were spent in the loving care of her Daughters, Dawn and Mellernese and her devoted sister- in-law Mamie, who brought her much pleasure, love, and laughter. Her presence here on earth will be missed but we know she is in the arms of her Father in Heaven. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Surviving our beloved Valerie are her three Children, Dawn of Philadelphia, PA, Tyrone of Durham, NC, and Mellernese (Terrance) of Willingboro, NJ, her Grandchildren Jamil, Nicole, JaJuan, Luvon, and Deja, her Mother and Stepfather Dorothy and Luis Rivera of Norwalk, CT, Brothers Gregory of Bridgeport, CT, Melvin (Karen) of Waterbury, CT, Roger (Mamie) of West Atco, NJ, Tony (Sylvia) of Ansonia, CT, and Sister Cheryl (William) of Norwalk, CT, Aunt Barbara (Ronald) of Gibbsboro, NJ and a host of loving cousins, nieces, nephews and caring friends.