Henrietta Gwendolyn Harris' Obituary
Former longtime San Francisco resident Henrietta Gwendolyn Harris died peacefully at the age of 100 in Berkeley, CA. She was born in San Jose, CA, to parents Louise Elizabeth (Ward) and John Walter Harris. Her maternal grandparents traveled from Kentucky to San Jose, a few years earlier, by covered wagon. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ward, and dear friend Freda Koblick.
From an early age, Henrietta showed a keen interest in music. She began singing and playing piano in the local Baptist church. She graduated from high school and went to San Jose State where she earned a B.A. After college, she earned a sponsorship, awarded to her by Marie West, to continue her voice studies in the U.S. and abroad. A mezzo-soprano, she went on to perform in San Francisco, New York, London, and later toured in Europe with the cast of the musical, “Porgy and Bess.” She would later earn a masters degree from Stanford. She was a sought after teacher of voice and acting at UC Berkeley, the American Conservatory Theater (ACT), the University of Maryland – Munich Campus, the University of San Francisco, and San Francisco State University. She was devoted to and much loved by her students.
In the early 1960s, Henrietta realized her long held dream of founding an African American theater group, The Aldridge Players-West, to provide training and experience in all aspects of the theater. It was an ambitious project and she worked closely with her friend, actress Marguerite Ray to form the group. The Aldridge Players-West performed at the former YWCA at 1830 Sutter in San Francisco and enjoyed positive reviews from theater critics. Among the group’s members was the late actress Vonetta McGee, who went on to appear in a variety of films, and theater actor Mark Primus. A highlight for the group was a UC Berkeley sponsored tour to historically Black Colleges in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. The late Suzanne Geier Seton and Gilbert S. Black, both of San Francisco, were among the group’s directors.
In 2016, friends joined in celebrating Henrietta’s 100th birthday at Chaparral House in Berkeley, her home for the past several years. Henrietta delighted in the fuss and received many birthday greetings, including letters from President and Mrs. Obama, and the current president of UC Berkeley. When asked how old she felt, she replied “About 50.”
Henrietta, sustained by her faith, is survived by her many loving friends, including Marguerite Ray, Los Angeles and Oakland, Flora and Leonard Isaacson, Tiburon, Diane MacDonald, Emeryville, Dr. Mariquita West and Celia Taupin, Los Gatos, Dr. and Mrs. Michael Drake, San Francisco, Mary Jackson, Oakland, Booker and Joyce Jackson, Albany, and the Aldridge Players-West family.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, June 9th at 11:00 am at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611. Contributions may be made in memory of Henrietta Harris to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), Chaparral House in Berkeley, CA, or Doctors Without Borders.
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