Jemal Rynell Harris

Jemal Rynell Harris entered this life on a bright sunny Monday morning, August 11, 1975, in Cleveland, Ohio to Renee Castleberry Hines and Lewis Harris.  He was their first born and only child together.  He left this life on a gloomy Friday morning, November 4, 2022.

He moved to Houston, Texas in the 2nd grade and resided there upon completion of the 8th grade.  He met Michael Jordan during that time of his life, and that encounter gave him his drive to begin playing basketball in middle school.  He received the MVP for 7th and 8th grade.  He relocated to Ashtabula, Ohio for high school where he once again excelled in basketball.  He played varsity basketball his entire 4 years of high school while attending Harbor High, graduating in 1993.  He led the Harbor Mariners to district finals his sophomore year, he was player of the year for the County and NEC his junior year, and elected to 1st team his senior year.  He went on to play basketball for Tiffin University where he was voted Best Defensive Player his senior year. He completed 4 years and a degree in Criminal Justice; and in 2016 he was inducted into the Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation Hall of Fame.  While giving his acceptance speech, he looked out to his sons and said "you see, I told you I was kind of a big deal".

He was employed at Dealer Tire for 15 ½ years, where he began his career as a Driver, having the longest accident free record in the company's history.  He was promoted to Car Line Specialist, a position he maintained until his untimely death.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandmother Eula Thornton, grandmother Doris Jones, grandfather William "Sonny" Harris and Uncle James "Bunk" Alexander.  He leaves to mourn his husband Terry  Verrona, mother Renee Hines, second mother/aunt Theresa Alexander, father Lewis Harris, sons Jaxon Z. Harris and Donovan M. Walker, grandmother Barbara T. Harris, brothers Kevin McCaleb, Vincent McCaleb, Marcus McCaleb, Aygemang Clay of Florida, Sisters Detra "Sanchez" Culton-Cooper (David) of Houston Texas, Lena Harris, Carlee "The Ungrate" Grisaffe (Michael) of Houston, Texas , Aunt Corene Harris Samuel of Florida, Uncles Larry Hill, Paul Hill, William "Billy" Harris, nieces Lauryn "Lolo" Franklin, Sadie Renee Grisaffe, Autumn "Amber Rose" Grisaffe, Coltrane Clay and Era Clay.  There are many other people that were important in Jemal's life that are too numerous to name individually.  You all know who you are and what you meant to him.

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