Emma Jane Harness

Emma Jane Harness, age 81, of the Laurel Grove Community passed away at her home on Monday, March 10, 2025.

Born to Hobert and Ellen Parks on January 21, 1944, she passionately loved her Lord, her church, Laurel Grove Baptist Church, her community, and her family.

She showed her love for her Lord every single day. Her love for everyone that she knew was real and genuine.

Saved by Lord Jesus at the age of 9, she was a lifelong member of Laurel Grove Missionary Baptist Church. She was very active in her church – serving as the Church Pianist and Church Secretary, singing in the Choir, teaching Sunday School, teaching Vacation Bible School, and serving as a deacon’s wife.

She was a Prayer Master and when she prayed, you knew, without a doubt, that her prayers were heard.

She lived and loved Laurel Grove and everyone who lived here. She worked as the Director of the Laurel Grove Community Center, championing the road when it came through Frost Bottom. She was and is the reason we now have a Laurel Grove Community Park. She kept the park beautiful -weed eating, planting flowers, having memorials made, and trimming trees.

She loved camping, fishing, hunting, finding ginseng, taking road trips, and yard sales.

She married W.C. Harness, had children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. But everyone was family, no matter your color, what your politics, where you came from, or what you did. You were loved.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, William Clarence Harness; her daughter, Jeanie Braden and husband, Douglas Cooper; son, Clarence Jason Harness; and son, Hobart Judd (Dobie) Harness and partner, Brandy Shelton.

Her grandchildren, Luke Cox, Samantha Harness, Olivia Savoie, Brandon Harness, Anna Braden, Sidney Bishop, Isaac Bishop, Jacob Harness, and Jordan Cooper

Her great-grandchildren, Kade Aslinger, Dillon Harness, Jayden Harness, Ryland Harness, Rhett Crappell, Kyson Harness, Max Harness, Avianna Manning, Xavier Harness, Aurora Harness, Ava Holmes, Naomi Cooper and Malachi Cooper.

Janie’s favorite words that she lived by “LEAVE A PLACE BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT”. She did just by being here.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Laurel Grove Community Park.