Rena Patton Harris

Rena Patton Harris was born September 17, 1939 and departed this world on February 24, 2021.


She was born in Nashville, TN to Will Patton and Serriner Southall. She was the 5th child born unto this union. William Patton, John Patton, Easter Patton, Cornelia Patton, and Frank James Patton and her first grandson, Jorron Pendleton, have preceded her in death.


She attended Haynes High School and married Mose “Sonny” Harris in 1959 and two children were born to this union.


She obtained her licensed vocational nurse in Los Angeles, CA in 1964. After returning to Tennessee, she obtained her Associate of Science in Nursing in 1968 and obtained a certificate in Maternal Child Health/Family Nurse Practitioner at Meharry Medical College. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee in Nashville, TN in 1978. She obtained a Master’s degree in Education in 1983 and another Master’s degree in Parent/Infant Specialty from Tennessee State University and Meharry Medical College. She worked for many years at Meharry Medical College in Nurse-Midwifery and as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She was an educator.


She loved nursing, education, and was devoted to teaching others. Her work history leaves a legacy of education at Tennessee State University, Austin Peay University, Metropolitan General Hospital, Matthew Walker, Vanderbilt University, and Metro Nashville Health Department. She retired in 2010 from Meharry Medical College where she worked as a student health nurse practitioner.


She loved bowling and playing cards with Martha Patton, Karen Whiting, Cacelli Bristol, Donna Magwood, and Angie Doss.


A special thanks to her church home, 14th Ave Missionary Baptist Church family, St. James Missionary Baptist Church family, St. Matthews Methodist church family, Belmont Village, Alive Hospice, and Caris Health Care.


She leaves behind many cherished memories: Her only remaining sibling, Dewitt (Martha) Patton, Nashville, TN, loving children, Sharon (Joe) Pendleton of Nashville, TN, and Kevin (Adrienne) Harris, Shanghai, China. Two grandsons, Jeremy Pendleton of Nashville and Michael Harris, Greenville, South Carolina, three granddaughters, Mackenzie Harris, Nashville, TN and Morgan Harris, Fort Wayne, IN, and Regine Pierre, Atlanta, GA. Bonus children LaShonda Corley, Nashville, TN and Earl Corley, Jr, Atlanta, GA, Shelley (Gary) Hamilton, Freemont, CA, Keith (Mel) Forney Harris, Santa Clarita, CA, Stephaan Harris, Washington, D.C., Carol Harris, Atlanta, GA. Her devoted niece and caregiver, Diamond Jackson of Nashville, TN and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.


Rena Patton Harris loved education as well as her best friend and fellow nurse practitioner, Sara Smith. Devoted friends in the nursing community: Beverly Brown, Mary Pleas, Betty Wilson, Lorretta Johnson, and Sheila Grant. Devoted friend Vanzora Jackson and the Northwest YMCA.


She believed that all nurses should be an active member of the Tennessee Nursing Association.


In lieu of flowers and cards that will perish, please donate to:
Meharry Medical College with the memo of: In loving memory of Ms. Rena Patton Harris, CNM, FNP


DUE TO COVID-19, A FACE MASK IS REQUIRED, UPON ENTRY OF THE CHURCH, TEMPERATURES WILL BE CHECKED AND PLEASE KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCE IN MIND AT ALL TIMES.