Sophia Ann Harrison

Sophia Ann Nelson Harrison
(October 16, 1923 – January 17, 2013)

Sophia Harrison of Stamford, Texas, took her last breath in this life at 4:10 PM on Thursday, January 17, 2013. A series of complicated medical problems over the past month overcame her ability to maintain health and life.

Sophia was born on October 16, 1923 in Waco, Texas, the oldest child and daughter of Victor Nelson and Thelma Brady Nelson. She became a big sister in December,1927 when her brother, James K. Brady Nelson was born. She went to school in Stamford for a few years when she lived with her grandparents, Annie Mae and James K. Brady during the Depression. She moved to Bryan, Tx in 1935 when her father took a position with the Federal Government investigating agriculture fraud. Sophia loved growing up in Bryan, near College Station. Texas A & M was a big part of her life and she was an avid fan of the Aggies until her dying day.

Sophia graduated from high school and started college at Texas State College for Women (now TWU) in Denton, Tx at age 16. She stopped her studies in 1940 to become the secretary for Senator Joseph York in Austin.

Bland Harrison and Sophia Nelson married on May 10, 1943 and started their life together in an apartment near Fort Sill, Oklahoma. They moved back to Stamford after WWII with their baby daughter in 1945 and had their son in 1947. She developed Type I diabetes in 1948. She and Bland were an impressive team in dealing with this diagnosis.

Sophia loved her occupation as “household engineer” and added
PTA at Stamford school system, Thursday bridge club, and Presbyterian Women’s Association to her busy life as wife and mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She served on every committee and as an Elder in Central Presbyterian Church. She delivered Meals on Wheels in Stamford for many years.

Sophia was always ready to travel and did not like to miss a party or family gathering. She enjoyed trips to A&M Football games, to Holland, Hawaii, and Alaska with the Travelin’ Aggies and spending winters at the Seagull in Port Aransas where she made many friends. She “got online” in 1997 and extended her friendships and contacts all over the world.

Survivors include her husband William Bland Harrison, Jr., her daughter, Victoria Harrison Wehnert and husband Jay, her son, William Bland Harrison III and wife Leslie; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Ann Moreland Mason and husband Jeffrey, Wendy Nicholson and husband Slade, Will Harrison and wife Whitney, and Wesley Harrison; six great grandchildren: Sara Mason, David Mason, Kaley Mathis, Jonathan Nicholson, Kameryn Mathis, and Jody Blane Harrison; her brother, Jim Nelson and wife Audrey and niece Felicia Nelson; her sister-in-law, Nancy Russell and husband Norris, her niece Robbie Russell and her nephew Dr. Russ Russell and his family, along with a host of other family and friends.

Sophia was preceeded in death by her parents, Thelma and Victor Nelson, along with other relatives and life-long friends.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 1:30PM at Central Presbyterian Church in Stamford with Pastor Kelly Piggott officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Tankersley Funeral Home. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 5:30 until 7:00 P.M. Church family, family and friends are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall of the church at noon on Sunday.

Pallbearers will be: Eddie Jones, Ferdie Walker, Jim Astin, Lanny Ford, Bob Harrison, and Jimmy and Dorothy Doan.

Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren.

Memorials in her honor may be sent to the charity of choice.