ABOUT ONETTA MAE HARRIS

Onetta M. Harris was born Onetta Mae Dixon on January 6, 1925 in Sherman, TX to Joseph and Winnie Dixon. She spent her youth in Rosebud, TX and graduated from Wilson White High School. After graduating, she attended Paul Quinn College in Waco. TX and Texas College in Tyler, TX where she met her husband, Army Lieutenant Israel Washington Harris (Sep 26, 1925 - Feb 28, 2006) In 1942 the two joined hands in marriage in Sherman, TX. They had 8 children; Gwendolyn, Israel Jr. and Kenneth, then moved to Menlo Park, CA in 1952 where they then had Edmund, Frederick, Terrance, Andre and Felicia. They resided at 341 Terminal Ave in Menlo Park, CA and the home remained in the family until 2014. 

Onetta served on the Belle Haven Advisory Committee where she played key role in the development of the Belle Haven Community Center which was renamed The Onetta Harris Community Center in 1982 to honor her after passing, for all the positive things she did within the East Menlo Park Belle Haven Community. Her community involvement was not limited to East Menlo Park, but she also played a very important role in the acquisition of land from Bank of America and foundation of the Drew Medical Pharmacy, which is still open and located in East Palo Alto, CA. Onetta was huge pillar of both communities. Her passion and community support helped the lives of many families in East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park.