The members of the Baltimore City Council mourn the tragic loss of their friend and colleague former Councilman Ken Harris. You can leave messages of condolence for the family and friends of Ken Harris on this website.

Leave a comment or words of condolence

Dear Annette,Nicole and Ken Jr.,

I send my sincere condolences to you and your family. Ken was my friend and colleague for 8 plus years and during that time he was dedicated to improving and making Baltimore City a better place to live. He wll be sorely missed by all that knew him.I’m away on vacation and can not make the home going services but my Prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. My daughters Teaira and Kendra will be there in my absence. God Bless you as you travel this journey.

On September 22, 2008 at 1:39 am R. A. Mills said:

Sincerest condolences to the Harris family. Words can not come close to sedating a grieving heart, however, knowing Ken from our days as members of Black Professional Men, he was always a man of God and he now smiles down upon us all.

Ken’s dedication and commitment to improving the lives of Baltimore residents will be missed. May God bless you as you grow to understand and follow the vision of how this will shape your future.

Your’s in prayer.

- Mills.

On September 23, 2008 at 7:26 am Troy Green said:

I send my deepest condolences to Kenny’s entire family. I worked with Kenny back in the 80’s where we chatted daily about sports, our classes at Morgan and the plight of our City “Baltimore”. Kenny was destined for greatness and inspired to lead and most particuliar to help our young men. I want Kenny to know that this fight will not end with his very tragic passing. We will continue on this journey to right the wrongs of this city and we will do it in a way he would be proud of. Kenny my brother rest in peace- the dream will continue.

Your friend forever
Troy Green

On September 23, 2008 at 8:25 am Kirk Bryant said:

Dear Annette, Nicole and Kenny Jr.:

My condolences go out to you. I just talked to Kenny on Wednesday night as we were planning to hook up in DC at the CBC this week.

He caught me up on little Kenny going to college and Nicole’s plans for the future. He was very proud of them.

He also talked about the good old days when we worked together at Blue Cross and Blue Shield and told me that he was looking forward to his life with you alone, now that the kids were all grown up.

I believe that GOD has a bigger plan for Kenny and I pray that you find comfort in his word. I am in New Orleans producing another Blue Cross conference but I will fly back on Wednesday to be there for you and my friend.

May God comfort you and the kids during this most challenging time. If there is anything I can do please let me know.

On September 23, 2008 at 12:27 pm Stephen and Diane Herlth said:

Please, please accept our sincere condolences on the loss of City Council Person Harris. My wife Diane and I are praying for his family and for the friends who worked with him.

Stephen, Diane Herlth, Sr.

On September 23, 2008 at 12:29 pm Dan Pontious and John Nethercut said:

Like so many others, we at the Rental Housing Coalition were stunned and saddened at the tragic death of former City Councilman Kenneth N. Harris, Sr. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones at this terribly difficult time.

We will also always remember Councilman Harris as the chair of the City Council’s Housing Committee and lead sponsor of Baltimore’s “Clean Streets” eviction reform law, which took effect nearly a year ago. After more than a decade of evicted tenants’ belongings strewn about neighborhood streets, as well as unsuccessful attempts to change the practice, Councilman Harris held a hearing on the problem in March 2006 and worked with us to introduce a bill to reform it the following year. While many people helped pass the law in its final form, Councilman Harris’ initiative and desire to make a difference got the ball rolling. Because of that initiative, our neighborhoods are cleaner, advance notice of evictions helps many tenants pay back rent and stay in their homes, and the City has about $1 million each year that it doesn’t have to spend cleaning up after evictions.

Baltimore has lost a true public servant, and we wanted to share this one story of how his career helped improve our quality of life here in the City. We will miss you, Ken.

Dan Pontious, Acting Executive Director
John Nethercut, Executive Director
Citizens Planning and Housing Association
Public Justice Center

On September 23, 2008 at 12:32 pm Kinji Scott said:

Ken Harris was my friend and a friend to this city. I am asking, not as Executive Director of Citizens for Washington Hill or Chair Maryland Juvenile Justice Coalition but as a private citizen, that the Mayor, Governor, and all policing organizations use every tool at their disposal to find the men that did this.

Regards

Kinji

On September 23, 2008 at 12:50 pm Rodney Green said:

Kenny was The friend of my brother in college and as a younger man I always looked up to him, now with me being older I still look up to him. My prayers go out to his family and friends in there hours of need in dealing with his passing. Baltimore has lost a great man and a great inspiration to all man kind.

On September 23, 2008 at 1:02 pm RJ said:

I didn’t know Councilman Harris, nor do I even live in Maryland or the east coast for that matter. But I wanted to extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. From what I’ve read, he built himself up to be an outstanding role model, and leader to so many and to have his life taken like that is horrible. I hope that those responsible will be brought to justice but furthermore, I hope that his example will be followed.

RJ from Ohio

On September 23, 2008 at 4:09 pm Nikki Fleming said:

In my capacity as Deputy Director of the Department of Legislative Reference I worked closely with Councilman Harris on all of his Council resolutions. Because of this relationship I was keenly aware of his dedication to the citizens of Baltimore. He was particularly concerned that our children receive a meaningful education, stay off the streets, and live of life of personal and public purpose. He was also concerned that everyone be treated fairly by law enforcement. But more than anything else he loved his family. I hope that the memory of his love and life serves to erase the memory of the circumstances of his untimely passing. God Bless and Keep you.

On September 24, 2008 at 12:57 am CREATION11 said:

Only GOD knows why you had to go. We know that you are in Heaven and that we will see you again. Thank you for leaving us with a legacy that you work hard to achieve anything in this life. THIS STAR WILL ALWAYS SHINE BRIGHT.

On September 24, 2008 at 7:40 am Dr. Barbara Moody & Judge Ivin Moody, Sr said:

To a wonderful person Ken Harris. It was a joy to meet you and see the great work you did in such a short time. Our prayers are with your family.

On September 24, 2008 at 12:15 pm Nancy B. Ray said:

Words cannot express the deep sorrow that I feel for this terrible and senseless loss. Ken Harris represented my district for a term, and he was conscientious and dedicated in his service toward others. May God keep his wife and children in the Light.

On September 24, 2008 at 12:57 am Sister Mary Fitzgerald said:

Dear Mayor Dixon and President Rawlings-Blake,

I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to you and all of the members of the City Council on the tragic and senseless murder of Ken Harris. I have known the Councilman in his role on the Council as a person of concern, compassion, and collaboration. I have also known Ken Harris as the father of Nicole Harris when she was a student at the Institute of Notre Dame and he was an active member of the Fathers’ Club and a generally involved parent. My Jewish friends might say, “Ken was a true mensch!”

Please know of my prayers for you and the members of the City Council, Commissioner Bealefeld and the members of the Police Department, Ken’s family, and all the citizens of Baltimore at this time of great sadness. Someone once said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (sic) to do nothing!” Hopefully, this senseless tragedy will motivate the good to rise up and let their voices be heard regarding the type of city we all desire.

Sincere regards,

Sister Mary Fitzgerald, SSND
Past President, Principal of the Institute of Notre Dame

On September 25, 2008 at 6:06 PM Tonnie Davis, LCSW-C said:

To The Harris Family
I was a social worker on the staff of the Baltimore Truancy Assessment Center(BTAC); the program that Mr. Harris founded. Please know that because of BTAC there are numerous students attending school on a regular basis because of the funding that Mr. Harris worked so diligently to secure on their behalf. I paid my respects to Mr Harris on yesterday and I walked away thinking to myself, what a tragic loss. Mr. Harris renewed my conviction to live life as if tomorrow isn’t promised to us. Thank you Harris family for supporting such an accomplished man so that he could give generously to the Baltimore community. My prayers are with you.

Tonnie Davis
Social Worker
BCPSS

On September 26, 2008 at 12:30 AM Mathew Fox said:

My deepest thoughts of sympathy go out to the Harris family. I was very lucky to intern for the Baltimore City Council with Councilman Harris. To know him was to love him. He was a great advocate for the City of Baltimore and will be truely missed.

On September 26, 2008 at 11:42 am Shawon Reed, MPA said:

To the Harris Family,
I am so saddened by this loss. Very saddened. I will always remember Mr. Harris in his dedication for public service at Towanda Recreation Center when I was growing up. He was very dedicated at a young age for the youth. It was at Towanda Recreation Center that I learned valuable life skills in becoming a responsible and courteous citizen. I will always remember the article that Mr. Harris had in the Afro News Paper and Baltimore Times, as he encouraged individuals to live their best life and no matter what, if you believe it you could achieve it. Mr. Harris believed in the power of change, he sent me a cassette tape to this day , that I will always cherish because in it he gave his personal testimony of how you could overcome any obstacle if you worked hard enough for it. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to be a part of some of Mr. Harris dreams, like his first run for City Council. He didnt have a lot of money at all to run but he had individuals such as myself who believed in him and his vision. I was never in Mr. Harris district but I volunteered for his quest of public service for the little man and he will truly be miss. To the family always know he is that angel looking over you with his love and that his vision will go on. He didnt die in vain.

Shawon

We must continue this fight. It takes a village to raise a child and Mr. Harris was a part of that village. In times like this,we need to get together to partner and develop a plan to make Baltimore like that of yesterday.

On September 26, 2008 at 5:14 pm Abdul-Rahmaan Waajid said:

I want to extend my deepest condolences to The Harris Family. BCFD Lieutenant EMS

On September 27, 2008 at 1:00 am anthony anderson said:

As an employee at Macy’s department store I had the pleasure of meeting and assisting Mr. Harris with his purchases. He frequently visited the fragrance counter it seemed to be his fetish. As I went into a political conversation with him he addressed my concerns with honest answers. I also advised Ken that I was a City Of Baltimore employee. As I remember the discussion not once did he make me feel that my position was any less important than his. Growing up in the Cold stream Montebello area I have been robbed by gunpoint several times yet never shot. I would like to offer my condolences to the entire Harris family. Ken worked hard for the people of this district may he now rest in peace.
Anthony

On September 27, 2008 at  8:16 pm The Orie Family said:

Dear Harris Family,

Our entire family continues to pray for God to heal and comfort you during this difficult time. Ken Harris Sr. was a wonderful man. The Lord will use his life as a stepping stone to help others to achieve great things and make Baltimore a better place. May the Lord bless your family, our state and our city.