IRVINGTON—William Holladay Harris, 80, of Irvington passed away on August 26, 2025.
Bill was born on June 11, 1945, in Richmond and grew up in Fredericksburg, graduating from James Monroe High School in 1963. He was the son of the late John Paul Harris Jr. and Ruby Smoot Cook Harris.
Bill graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in civil engineering and worked for Reynolds Metals in Richmond until entering law school at the University of Virginia.
After graduating from law school in 1973, Bill went to work for the law firm of Gordon Gay in Fredericksburg before opening his own law firm. He served as the Stafford County Attorney for several years in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Later, Bill and his brother, John Paul Harris III, went into practice together and formed the law firm of Harris and Harris, handling personal injury cases for 30 years.
Bill is a past president of the Fredericksburg Bar Association, as well as various civic groups. He was a member of the Virginia National Guard, achieving the rank of lieutenant. He also coached a variety of parks and recreation soccer and softball teams, winning several championships and was an assistant scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 179 for several years.
Bill was an avid snow skier and water skier. Bill’s whole family competed in trick waterskiing, winning local, state, regional and national medals. He also enjoyed teaching friends and their families to ski. Bill enjoyed entertaining at his home in Irvington, sailing, eating crabs and just being around the water.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Julie Wilshin Harris, three children, John Holladay Harris (Kristi), Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Petry-Johnson (Travis) and Jamie Crissey (Damien); eight grandchildren, Parker, Katie and Allison Harris; Ambler, Julia and Willa Petry-Johnson; and Andy and Elliot Crissey. He is also survived by a brother, Frank Harris Sr. of Florida, and two nieces and a nephew.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a brother, John Paul Harris III.
A funeral service was held at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 31, at Irvington United Methodist Church, with a reception following at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Northern Neck Partners for Pets, P.O. Box 361, Irvington, VA 22480; or the Steamboat Era Museum, P.O. Box 132, Irvington, VA 22480.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
