Nathanael Alexander Harris-Jones

Nathanael Alexander Harris-Jones, fondly known as Nate, was born on Sunday, December 20, 1998 to Sidney Harris and Readella Jones. He was born at Harper Hospital in Detroit.

He may have only spent 9,304 days, on this earth, but he lived!! Not only did he live, he loved.  He loved each and every one of us with compassion and fire.

We knew he was special even before he graced this world with his presence. Readella was still in college when he was born.  Two months out from his birth, she would tell him that he had to wait until after her last final on Friday, December 18, 1998 at 7pm.  Well in true Nate fashion, he decided on the morning of Saturday, December 19 that is was time.  However, he wasn’t sure he was ready and didn’t grace this world until 11:51 pm on December 20, 1998.  He arrived bright eyed and alert, looking at the lights in the hospital room.  From that day he was inquisitive, intelligent, observant, and compassionate for others.  He loved lights, especially Christmas lights and was a light to everyone who met him.

At the age of 6 months old, he would attend classes with his mother at the University of Michigan until they both graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in May of 2000. He was fondly known as the baby on the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus. He attended classes daily; either sleeping through or silently playing with his toys, and could be seen in his stroller or carried in a backpack carrier through the Diag.

At the age of 9 months, it was discovered that he could see a commercial and then hum the jingle.  He also surprised his mother at the same age, by walking around the living room.  She returned from the kitchen to find him teetering around the room, when discovered he sat down like nothing had happened.  It was always on Nate’s timing, because it took a week to finally get a video of him walking.

At the age of 4, he moved from Detroit, Michigan to Cypress, Texas.  He went on to attend the Montessori School by Cypress Creek, where he loved his teacher and annual field day.  After graduating pre-school, he went on to attend Matzke Elementary School and then Bleyl Middle School.  While attending Matzke, he started his Scouting journey with his Cub Scout den.  He enjoyed camping and scouting.  He went on to join his Boy Scout troop in Texas, and then Troop 382 in Copley.  At, Bleyl he learned to play the cello. In 2012, he moved to Copley, Ohio, where he attended Copley Middle School until he graduated on June 5, 2013.  He attended Copley High School, where he participated in the Four Cities Compact Engineering program at Wadsworth High School.  He graduated high school on May 28, 2017.  He received his Eagle Scout with Troop 382 in 2017. Nate and his fellow Eagle Scouts from 2016/2017 made the local paper due to achieving 60 Eagle Scouts in 60 years.  He was also a skilled actor, playing several roles with Playhouse 1960 in Houston, Texas.

Nate loved animals. He had a White Russian hamster, Mini Soda, two fish: Fred and Ted, two dogs: McCoy and Molly, and three cats: Chili, Fin and Tiger Shark . He would have had more pets, but his mother would not allow him to get the snake he wanted. His pets were his babies and he loved them as much as he loved humans.

Nate enjoyed music, gaming, acting, trains and loved sharing his music with others.  He learned how to play the violin at the age of 3, but was not in love with the instrument.  His instrument would be the guitar.  Once he started playing, he could be seen strumming his air guitar when he couldn’t play his real guitar.  He would stand in the backyard of his Aunt June’s house with his Country Bears lined up behind him playing his guitar and performing by the pool.  Over the years, he would attempt to start a band, but at Copley Middle school he met Wesley, Nathan and Matt.  Drum Roll - The Social Hostages were born.  They would go on to play at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Copley Heritage Days and several other venues.  Thanks to Matt’s mother Paula, they were able to hone their craft in her basement every Saturday.  They would not allow anyone to hear them play and we were all in shock when they played their first gig.  As they got older, a new band was formed with Wesley, Nate and Josh - Metagov.  They even went on a US tour, playing in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and several other states.  Nate lived for and loved music.  He played the cello, guitar, base guitar and could be heard singing.

In September of 2006, during “big” church at the Met, Nate accepted Christ.  It was in true Nate fashion, as the pastor said to say the prayer in silence, Nate was heard by all sitting near him.  He would go on to get baptized on November 15, 2006. He loved everyone, fighting for justice and equality for all.  With Nate, no one was a stranger.  He would give everything he had to others, always worrying about the safety and provision of his friends and family. He was compassionate and loved with a fire that could not be quenched.

On Monday, June 10, 2024, Nate earned his wings.  His heart was too big for this world! He joined his brother, Isaiah; sister, Isabella; aunt, Nita; uncle, Corky; grandpa, Readell; grandma, Joyce; his beloved dog, McCoy; and a host of other relatives and friends beyond this Earth.  He is mourned by his mother, Readella Pettway; birth father, Sidney Harris; father, Johnnie Pettway; sisters, Sidricka Harris, Raytoria Harris, Kenya Harris, Kennedy Harris, and Kimberly Salazar; grandmother, Clara Jones; aunts, June Rogers and Lisa Jones; uncles, Rayfield Rogers and Kevin Harris; godfather, Sheldon Cheng; godmother, Jennifer Johnson; his cats, Chili, Fin and Tiger Shark ; a host of cousins; and a huge family.  Family for Nate wasn’t just biological, everyone was a part of Nate’s family. So, when we say a huge family, that includes each and everyone that he met.  He may have called you friend or comrade, but you were his family. His love and light may not be with us physically, but he is still here in all of our hearts.

Nate’s light may not be seen by us physically, but it shines bright in each and every one he met.  The family asks that each and every one of you continue to carry and shine Nate’s light as you go forth on your journey.  Please know that Nate loved each of you with a fire and compassion that could not be extinguished. Thank you for loving the gift from God that Nate was to us all.

On Monday, June 10, Nate left this world to start his next epic adventure in Heaven.  Fly high and keep rocking on!!

A Celebration of Nate’s Life will be held for the public at 1 P.M. on SUNDAY June 23rd at the Wadsworth Eagle’s Aerie #2117, 9953 Rittman Road Wadsworth, OH 44281. Private services will also be held for immediate family at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, 85 N. Miller Road Akron, OH 44333.