Woodrow "Pete" Harris

Woodrow “Pete” Harris, 82, of Nashville and formerly of Columbia, passed away on Thursday, October 13, 2022 in Nashville. Pete was born on December 6, 1939 in Mount Pleasant to the late Woodrow and Hazel Harris.

Pete’s gift as an athlete was first recognized and flourished when he joined the Monsanto Little League/Babe Ruth baseball team of which his father was the coach. From there, he went on to show excellence and racked up many personal records that held for over twenty years.

He was recruited by Memphis State in three sports, the most promising as a baseball pitcher; for which he was later offered a position on the roster by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He turned them down in order to finish his degree.

While at Memphis State, he was President of the EK Chapter of Sigma Chi and met his future bride of Miss Portia Swaim who he married in 1961.

Upon graduation, he was offered the Athletic Director position at prestigious Columbia Military Academy also taking on the head coaching job of the football program along with ten other varsity sports. Under his leadership, CMA took the titles of Mid-South Baseball Championships in 1964 and 1965 and the 1965 Mid-South Football Championship.

Following his success at CMA, he was hired by 3M where he sold the first artificial turf for the company to the Dallas Cowboys organization. His talents were again recognized by SpotBilt, and from there, Pete enjoyed his relationship with Bear Bryant at Alabama among other prominent programs.

After raising his family in Columbia, he saw opportunities in property and became a licensed Real Estate Broker. He furthered this calling and later received his Tennessee Contractor's License.

Radnor/Pulte Homes offered him a position where he met his future wife Rebecca Rountree who he married in 1998. Together, they formed Harris Homes in Brentwood, TN and with the company built over one hundred Harris Homes Luxury Homes in Brentwood and Green Hills.

Pete is survived by his wife, Rebecca Rountree Harris; Children, Kim (Brian) Sanderson, Shannon Harris, and step daughter, Salli (Eric) Parrish; Grandchildren, Drew (Laura) Sanderson, Elliott Sanderson, Audrey Sanderson, Madison Flowers, Haley Flowers, Lacey Hagan, and Whit Hagan; Great Grandchild, Andres Sanderson; Sisters, Peggy Holcomb, Susan Hamby, and Connie (Bobby Lee) Harris; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, October 23, 2022 at 2:00 PM in the chapel at Williams Funeral Home with Bro. Bob Vassar officiating. A celebration of life reception will be held after the service in Blevins Hall.