Creola Harris, Kansas City caregiver and social butterfly, dies at 73

Creola Harris never met a stranger. Her care and love for others was felt by anyone she encountered.

“When she came to visit me in Maryland, she asked to go to the African American museum,” Harris’ son, Robert Johnston, said. “We went to the museum, and she asked how many people can we take inside.”

Unbeknownst to Johnston, his mother had befriended two people — strangers — who too had been waiting outside, wanting to explore the museum.

“I took in one and she took in the other,” he said, laughing. “She told me they were her friends, and I was like momma, I didn’t know you knew anyone here.”

Harris never turned anyone away, her kids said. She loved to strike up conversation with everyone.

“She was just really an outgoing person,” Aireoshia Wilson, Harris’ daughter said. “She had a ton of friends.”

Harris made a lasting impression on all, her children said.

Harris died on Oct. 19. She was 73.

She was born in Kansas City on Dec. 15, 1947 to Samuel Johnston and Johnnie Mae Jiner.

Harris was the youngest of two girls and attended public school in Kansas City, where family said she caught the bug to become a lifelong student, earning a general education degree and later receiving her associates degree in Nursing.

“She beat the drum about education,” Wilson said. “She always talked about being the first one who finished and nearly acing the nursing exam,” she added.

A natural born caregiver, Harris, nursed many back to health. From family at home to her patients on the job, her nurturing spirit was felt by everyone she interacted with.

“She never saw it as work or a job. She was a really loving person,” Wilson said.

Harris loved to travel and the time she spent visiting family and being with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as much as possible, family said. And if she could not connect in person, she always made an effort to reach out by phone, text message or FaceTime.

“One year she came to stay for a whole month with me in Florida,” Harris’ daughter, Iyana Medlock, said. “We got a chance to do a lot of stuff there. We had a picnic on the beach and went sightseeing.”

When she was not enjoying a vacation to destinations like Hawaii and Jamaica, one could find her painting, reading her Bible, or cooking her favorite dishes such as salmon croquettes, dressing, and desserts.

“She had an awesome recipe for cheesecake,” Wilson said. “It was light and fluffy and really good.”

She also loved to listen to music, dance and decorate. Medlock said she got her creativity from her mother.

Harris’ children said their mother was the epitome of compassion, forgiveness, and loving kindness.

“Every time I’d leave, I’d tell her I love her,” Sylvester Washington, Harris’ son said. “I’m going to miss that.”

“I’m going to miss calling her everyday and talking to her,” Shalonda Washington, Harris’ daughter added.

Harris, her children said, embodied integrity, honesty, loyalty.

Harris was a member of The Word Ministry led by Pastor James Cravens. Her children say she loved to hear the word and being a part of such a close-knit church family.

“She made sure to read her Bible often. Her phone still comes with daily Bible verses,” Wilson said.

Creola is survived by her sister, Patricia Johnston; her six children, Aireoshia Wilson, Robert Johnston, Shalonda Washington, Sheridan Johnston, Sylvester Washington, and Isaac Harris; 11 grandchildren, Robert Johnston, Niaisha Johnston, Benjamin Washington, Tiffany Taylor, Christina Washington, Denzel Washington, Dwayne Walker, Bobby Burrell, Diamond Hall, Michael Charity, and Mion Charity, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and great-grandchildren and friends.

Other remembrances

Gwendolyn Joanne Hamadan

Gwendolyn Hamadan, who was dedicated to helping people, died on Oct. 22. She was 76.

Hamadan was born to Corrine and William Turner Baker in Marshall, Missouri, on June 4, 1945.

Affectionately known as “Joanne,” she grew up in Marshall before moving to Kansas City, which would be her permanent home.

Hamadan received her elementary and secondary education in Kansas City and went on to receive her master’s in psychology from the University of Missouri—Kansas City.

Family said Hamadan was dedicated to helping people, as shown by her long tenure and retirement from Western Missouri Hospital.

She is survived by her children, Ocie Baker, Stephen Baker and Jacqueline Ralls; niece, Joy Baker; grandchildren Tiffany Adisa , Jasmine Lites, Yaara Baker, Zaarah Baker, Zareen Baker, Stephen Baker II, Gabrielle Baker, Stasha Eddins and, Simone Baker; great grandchildren as well as her great nieces and nephews.