Growing Up a Harris
J
Many grew up on his stories, but these women grew up in his family.
LEFT: Linda Harris and Annette Harris Shakespeare visit a major display of Uncle Remus Critters at Lenox Square with their grandfather Lucien
Harris, Jr., in the early 1960s. The critters were made famous by Lucien’s grandfather, Joel Chandler Harris. RIGHT: The children of Joel
Chandler Harris gathered at Wrens Nest in 1948 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. Photo by Tom Gregory, Jr., courtesy of Lyn
Romine.
“Joel Chandler Harris was so shy that when
someone came to the front door,
22 LAKE OCONEE LIVING | SUMMER 2021
STORY BY CHIP R . BELL
| by the book |
he ran out back and let his wife answer the door. Unless
the visitor was from Eatonton. Then, he would sit and swap
stories.”
It was among the many fond memories Linda Harris and
Annette Harris Shakespeare—no relation to the English
Bard—had of the stories they knew about their great-great-
grandfather, Joel Chandler Harris, famed author of the Uncle
Remus stories. I recently interviewed the sisters about what
it was like “growing up a Harris.” The interview was arranged
by Melissa Swindell, executive director of Georgia Writers
Museum and former executive director of the Wren’s Nest in
Atlanta (the Harris home from 1881 until his death in 1908).
Here is a brief genealogy between Joel and the sisters. Joel
Chandler Harris and his wife Esther (Essie) LaRose were
married in 1873 and had nine children. The six who survived
beyond childhood were Julian, Lucien, Evelyn, Lillian, Mildred,
and Joel, Jr., whom they called Jake. The second oldest,
Lucien, and his wife, Aileen, had six children, one of whom
was Lucien, Jr. Lucien, Jr. and his wife, Louise, had three
children, one of whom was Linda and Annette’s father, James
Robin. Linda and Annette, both now old enough to get a vaccine
in the first round, have contributed many hours of work
to The Wren’s Nest. Linda is also an assistant city manager of
Decatur, Georgia.