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Harris Gives Again

Today, TFS’s longest-tenured teacher, Linda Harris, gave Christmas ornaments to over 140 faculty and staff members. In 1994, Harris found carefully painted wooden Christmas ornaments made by Jenora Dodd – her daughter-in-law’s mother. Dodd was a talented artist from Toccoa. She turned her home into a Christmas Bazaar each year and sold her homemade holiday treasures. 

“It occurred to me they would make a great gift. It would be neat to have the year and TFS painted in calligraphy on an ornament,” said Harris. “I only gave out 12 that first year. There were not that many people working here then. Once I started, I thought, ‘How can I give this up?’” 

Nearly 30 years later, Harris gave 12 dozen ornaments to TFS faculty and staff. Now, she orders the ornaments and does the writing herself. 

Assistant Head of School David Chester has a “Mrs. Harris Christmas Tree” in his office. He has all but one of the ornaments that Harris has given him. “They are everywhere,” he said. All over the TFS campus, stockings, Santa, snowmen, angels, doves, wreaths, gingerbread men, snowflakes, penguins, and more hang from trees in offices, classrooms, hallways, and lobbies. 

Harris explained that she is not the only faculty member who has brought Christmas cheer to TFS. Harriet Worrell bought big sheets of felt and made stockings for the students. She had the faculty come in and sew the stockings for many years. “In the circle building, there was a rope with clothes pins,” said Harris. “We would fill the stockings and hang them up with the students’ names on the stockings. It was so fun to watch the students find their felt stockings full of candy, fruit, pencils, erasers, and other school supplies.” 

Harris has worked at TFS for 55 years. Her stories and her ornaments connect us. She brings together the past with the present. Today, she told stories to students about teaching their grandparents and other family members over the years. Their faces lit up as she told them stories. Ms. Harris continues to bring cheer to students and staff at TFS.