Jean H. Harper

Obituary Jean H. Harper was born January 14, 1921 in Avondale, North Carolina to the late David and Alda Sims Hart. Jean was the fifth child of David and Alda’s twelve children. At a young age, Jean relocated to Washington, District of Columbia. For 32 years Jean worked at Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, DC as a dietitian. While working at Freedmen’s Hospital, Jean met the love of her life James “Jimmy” Harper. The couple soon married and from this union one daughter was born, Barbara Jean Harper. In 1954, Jean and Jimmy moved to Taylor Street NW where she lived the remainder of her life. Jean was a devoted member of Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church where she served as a missionary and worked actively in the Pastor’s Aide Ministry. In addition to working enthusiastically in her church, Jean devoted the majority of her time to her family. She could be found with Barbara, her grandchildren and her great grandson. Jean (best known as Granny) enjoyed traveling, cooking, and socializing with her friends and extended family. On Thursday August 28, 2014 at 4:31 pm Jean was called from labor to rest and went home to be with God Almighty whom she loved best. Although hearts are heavy and eyes filled with tears, her children rise and call her BLESSED. It is well with our souls. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband James “Jimmy” Harper, parents David and Alda Sims Hart, her brothers Sims, James, Willie, Charles, and Glen, her sisters Pauline, Alda Mae, Ruth, Dovie and Mamie; and life long friend Frankie Crowe. To cherish her love are daughter Barbara Jean Harper, her grandsons James Cannady and Linwood Bradford Jr., her great-grandson Linwood III, her son/nephew Percy Ridley Jr. and his wife Wanda and their children Quentin and Keshia, her sister Vivian Ridley, her sisters-in-law Sarah Hart and Dorothy Hart, her brother-in-law Lonnie Dawkins Sr., her step-daughter Frances Armstrong, her godchildren Tracy Ross, Troy Ross, Lori Ross, and Deadra Welcome. Her lifelong devoted friend Helen Pearson, a vast number of nieces, nephews, cousins, Trinity A.M.E. Zion family, Taylor Street NW neighbors, and numerous friends.

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Jean H. Harper

January 14, 1921 - August 28, 2014