51 EAST THIRD STREET P.O. BOX 159 GARLAND, N.C. 28441 910-529-7861
51 EAST THIRD STREET P.O. BOX 159 GARLAND, N.C. 28441 910-529-7861
Dr. Harris was born on March 18, 1954 to Lester Leon Harris and Ernestine EM DeMatteo, at University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He has three brothers and three sisters.
Dr. Harris came to Wilmington, NC at an early age.
Dr. Harris has two sons, Gonzalez Leon Harris II (LaRhonda) and Phillippe' Antonio Harris (Desiree Alysha). He also has three granddaughters; Kailah Elize, Grace Lanae and Haven Aliyah.
He graduated in 1972 from New Hanover High School.
At 10 years old the Rev. Dr. Gonzalez L. Harris I joined Mt. Zion AME Church, where the Rev. MT Phillips was the pastor. He sang on the youth choir, young adult choir, the MT Phillips male choir. He served on the usher board and floral club. He was trained as a Sunday School teacher.
On November 25, 1972, this young man, at the age of 18 years old, recognized his call to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. Upon telling his then Pastor, the Rev. Douglas Morris, Sr., he was given the date of December 25, 1972 at 7p.m. to preach his Trial Sermon at Mt. Zion AME Church. The text: Matthew 2:11; the Subject "What Is Your Gift to God?"
Dr. Harris studied at United Christian College, received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Shaw University; received a Masters and Doctoral Degree from NC College of Theology; studied for his MBA at University of Phoenix; Studied at U.S. Career Institute and the Rich Dad Institute-Transactional Real Estate.
He is an entrepreneur with these companies: Mighty Muscadine an affiliate of LeBleu Water Corporation; GS Partners and served as a National Trading Eagle with N2K, an Options Trading company.
Dr. Harris inherited the leadership roll as Coordinator of "Operation Save the Youth", Wilmington, NC.
Dr. Harris is presently the Head Coach for his Jr. High Alma Mata, DC Virgo. For over 14 years he coached middle school sports, basketball & football (Myrtle Grove Middle, DC Virgo Middle & Murray Middle). He served the offensive backs coach as Ashley High School. He also coached 6 players that played(s) in the NFL; (Timmy Worley, Patrick Long, Conner Barth, Nick Becton, Jay Ross and presently Alex Highsmith of the Pittsburg Steelers).
Dr. Harris was employed with the New Hanover County School System, now retired.
He is affiliated with Crystal Springs Lodge #793 of Northwest NC, where he served as the Worshipful Master, Past Master Harris now served as Secretary of the Lodge of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of NC.
By God's grace, Dr. Harris has served on many levels of Ministry and many positions: assisted in planting churches in the New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender County areas; served as Assistant to Presiding Elder CR Thompson for 6 years on the Clarkton District AME Zion Church Boards of Christian Education; Music; Stewardship; Evangelism Director, Chair Finance of the Clarkton District; Chief of Protocol Clarkton, Wilmington District and the Cape Fear Conference presently. He followed The Rev. Terry Jones, who is Presiding Elder of the Lumberton District. Dr. Harris was Chairman of the Cape Fear Conference Bicentennial Commission form 1995 to 1996. Dr. Harris has mentored over 50 persons in the ministry and held 15 pastorates in the AME Zion Church: Savannah Temple, Clarkton, NC; New Zion (80-85); Chrysolite, Lumberton, NC (85-87); Providence, Rowland , NC (85-87); Pierce Chapel. Emerson NC (87); Piney Grove, Clarkton (87-88) **the First Church on the District; Graham Chapel, East Arcadia, NC (88-92); New Elders Chapel, Magnolia, NC (92-94); Rehobeth, Farmers Union, NC (94-2001); Summerville, Leland, NC (2001-2005); St. James, Southport, NC (2005-10); Johnson Chapel, Leland, NC (2010-12); St. Paul, Bolton NC *Freeman Community* (2013-15); Walter's Chapel, Bolton, NC (2015-2023) and St. Stephen, Garland, NC (2023-present).
Lastly, The Reverend Doctor Gonzalez L. Harris I, is the Great Great Grandson of the late Presiding Elder, The Rev. Dr. Peter William Lawrence, who in 1911 served the Clarkton District, then later appointed to the Wilmington District. He is also the great nephew of the late Presiding Elder, Rev. Dr. Cephas Walter Lawrence of the Greensboro District and the Grand Secretary of the Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina.
The Rev. Dr. Gonzalez Leon Harris I is widely traveled for Jesus Christ in the AME Zion Church and Christendom.
His favorite saying is: "By His Grace, For Jesus Is King!"
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