By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FOREST PARK - The Rev. Michael Harris Sr. founded a church and began drug treatment and HIV/AIDS programs for the African-American community and for recovering addicts.

He died of lung cancer April 15 at Mercy Hospital Fairfield. The Forest Park resident was 61.

In 1999, he founded and has been pastor of Emmanuel New Mount Zion Christian Center in North College Hill.

Born in Cincinnati in 1942, he graduated from Taft High School in 1961. He served in the Air Force from 1962-69, and returned to Cincinnati and worked at the U.S. Postal Center from 1969-1976.

He earned a divinity degree from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, in 1979 and served at Anderson Chapel AME Church, Cincinnati; Payne Chapel AME, Hamilton; and St. Paul AME Church, Cincinnati.

He earned a bachelor's degree in social studies from Xavier University in 1982.

In 1987, the Rev. Mr. Harris founded a faith-based drug treatment program at Payne Chapel AME and later, in the West End.

As part of the church's HIV/AIDS ministry, he and his wife, Mamie, began an HIV testing program in 2001 at the church. The Harrises were also trained to counsel people before and after the test and make referrals for testing.

"My father was a great man who made a tremendous impact on my life," said one of his sons, James Minter of Northside. "He taught me to believe in myself and stand up for what I believe in. I feel blessed to have had him for a father."

The Rev. Mr. Harris' brother, Richard of Louisville, passed away in January of the same disease.

In addition to his son, survivors include Mamie, his wife of 28 years; two other sons, Michael Harris Jr. and Ricardo A. Vinson, both of Westwood; a daughter, Karen Kennedy of Forest Park; four brothers, Preston of Spanaway, Wash., and Malcolm, Major and Donald, all of Detroit; five sisters, Yvonne Harris Edmerson of the West End, and Virginia, Ava, Pat, and Barbara Harris, all of Detroit; eight grandchildren; and one great grandchild.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 2365 Compton Road, Mount Healthy. Funeral services follow at noon at the church. Interment is in Spring Grove Cemetery. Thompson, Hall & Jordan Funeral Home is serving the family.

Memorials: Spiritual Application For Recovering Addiction Individual Recovery Plan, 821 Bank St., Cincinnati, OH 45214.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com