Elnora Harper

Elnora (Nora) Harper was born on November 10, 1925, the oldest child of Rosa Harper and Wilbert Harper, Sr., in Sparta, Georgia. There she received both her early Academic and Christian educations. Elnora gave her heart to Christ at an early age and loved reading the Bible, something she did every day until no longer feasible. She had a great love of music as a child, and often sang in church and school programs, sometimes accompanied by her brother Bennie. At the age of 16, 3 years after the death of her mother, she moved to New York where she lived with an aunt and worked at the famous Rogers Hotel. She returned to Georgia at the age of 19, to marry her "soul mate", Leslie Harper (no relation) on January 18, 1945. She proudly raised their 6 children, Loretta, James Edward, Vivian, Lenora, Leslie, Jr., and Elaine. She also has a beloved stepdaughter, Lena Brookins, of Sparta, Ga. After moving North for better work opportunities, the family settled in Chester, Pennsylvania and soon joined Grace Community United Methodist Church, under the pastorate of Rev. Austin Black. She was an active member until recent years when her health failed. She loved her church family, she loved her pastors, and she loved the years of work she did with the Stewardess Board, many years as the Chairperson, and also serving many years as a member and Leader of the Prayer Band. She also served as the Church Historian, and in years past the Leader of Class #1. She was a Christian who never said no to church work and always encouraged her family to do the same. God and family were the most important things in her life. She loved being a wife, mother, and homemaker. She was an excellent cook and was known for her cakes, bisquits, and fried chicken, but nothing surpassed her sweet potato pies. She welcomed all who came to the door, and never had an ill word. It was always "bless you" and "thank you" and "I'm praying for you". Elnora was predeceased by her husband Leslie Harper, Sr., her sisters Ethel, Buerina, and Daisy, her brothers Bennie, Lovick, Wilbert, Jr., Roosevelt, Willie Lee, Nathaniel, Frank, David, William, Jimmy, and Joseph. She leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Loretta (Lewis), James Edward (Andrea), Vivian (Earl), Lenora (Raymond), Leslie, Jr. (Cathy), and Elaine, 3 sisters, Lucy Warren, Chester, Pa., Mary Harper, Covington, Ga., and Mae Julia Lundy, Sparta, Ga., 1 brother, Jesse Harper, Sparta, Ga., 13 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Leslie and Elnora were amazing role models as a couple, as parents, and as friends. Elnora was a woman of great faith and set an example for her family and friends by the way she lived every day of her 95 years. Sorrowfully submitted, the Harper Family

Elnora Harper

November 10, 1925 - November 15, 2020