Geraldine Kennedy Harrison

Geraldine Kennedy Harrison “Chi-Chi” a daughter, sister, cousin, auntie, wife, mother, grandmomma and friend. She would be the first to describe herself as a child of the KING. She was called home to Jesus on December 1, 2020 at age 91.

Geraldine was born to the late John and Ethel Giles – Kennedy on March 4, 1929 in Nashville, Tennessee. Geraldine was one of 10 siblings. Her parents and all the beloved siblings have transitioned from this world, but God saw fit for her to remain and continue to function as the matriarch of the Kennedy-Harrison clan.

Geraldine accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at an early age. For decades she was a dedicated member at Westwood Baptist Church University Center participating in numerous ministries. She was particularly remembered as an Usher, keeping the doors in the House of the Lord.

Geraldine completed her education in the Nashville Metro Public School system, graduating from Pearl High School. She met her beloved husband, Haywood Harrison, Jr. in high school. They married and from this union six children were born; Haywood III, a set of twins, Sherlock and Sherwood, Dianne, Arcenta and Larry.

In addition to being a dedicated wife, loving mother, and faithful church member, she also loved working in her garden, tending to her potted plants on her car port, staying actively involved in senior activities in the community, and holding various volunteer roles at Berean Baptist Church and Westwood Baptist Church University Center. Throughout her entire life, she held an unwavering faith in God, which she shared with those who surrounded her. Geraldine’s children and grandchildren tell stories of hearing her “hit the floor” on her knees talking to the Lord.

If Geraldine’s family were asked to describe her, the first adjective to be uttered would be caring. She has opened her home to family and friends alike to shelter them from unfortunate situations; caring for those when there was no other lodging.

She was the definition of empathy. Not only did her heart hurt when the hearts of those she loved were in pain, but she enveloped the concerns and worries of others and made them her own.

Now if you knew this lovely lady, you understood she spoke her mind….frequently! Here family and friends typically had no need to ask her what she was thinking because she would let you know.
Lastly, and the most important, Geraldine loved the Lord and raised her family to do the same. After God, family, whether biological or “adopted” in as her family, she would breed these two important factors in the lives of each one. To her Lord, family, and friends, she sacrificed time, talent and money and gave her best to all who knew her.

Geraldine joins her parents, John, and Ethel Kennedy; husband Haywood Jr., siblings: Alice, Jonnie Lee, James, Dave, Charlie Pearl, Robert, Leon, William, and her twin, Gerald; children Dianne Lorraine and Sherwood. Those that remain and will forever cherish her memory are her surviving children; Haywood III (Denise), Sherlock Sr., Arcenta, and Larry Sr. (Cheryl); her beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren; sister-in-law Grace Kennedy – Vaughn; special niece, Sheila Clark, special adopted daughter, Rita Russell, and special longtime friends, Marion (“Cat”) Ewing, Alene Lewis and Barbara Jean Armstrong. She was also blessed with a host of nieces, nephews, and long-time neighbors.