Altia Juanita Harper, 91, of Harrisburg, was embraced in her home by God's welcoming arms and guided into a life of eternal joy on January 22, 2015. Juanita, known to her family and friends, was born on August 9, 1923 in Thomasville, GA to the late Catherine and Charles Brown. In addition to her parents, Juanita was preceded in death by her brothers Charles and Lorris. She was a graduate of Douglas High School in Thomasville and Savannah State College where she holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics. After graduation from college, she met David Albert Harper, who became her lifelong partner in marriage for sixty years until his death in 2005. Juanita and David lived in Virginia the first two years of their marriage, then moved in 1949 to Harrisburg. There, Juanita secured a teaching position with the Harrisburg School District, teaching Early Childhood K-4 and K-5, -2- and first grade at Lincoln Elementary School, where she remained twenty-four years until retirement. In addition to teaching at Lincoln, she served as coordinator for Project Headstart, Reading, and the William Howard Day Care Center. Her favorite activities included reading, traveling, crocheting, doing puzzles, and watching football games, murder mysteries and westerns on tv. She was a faithful and devoted member of Capital Presbyterian Church, where she served on the Trustee Board, Women's Association, and the Annie Carroll Senior Center. Juanita loved helping people. She always took time to listen to anyone in need. In the community, she was a volunteer for the American Red Cross, and a member of Eastern Star, the NAACP and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. More than anything else, she loved her children. She worked hard and was an exceptional mother-the sunshine of her children's lives. Juanita kept her heart filled with love and laughter. Her creed was "if you don't have love, faith, and respect, you don't have anything". Juanita leaves to celebrate her life, her daughters -3-Altia Dianne Harper Harrrisburg and Evelyn Wyvonia White (Charlie, Sr.); her son, David Albert Harper III, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; beloved nieces, nephews, friends and extended family members.
