Harris, a 6’3 center at 6’3 inches, was honored with a two-hour ceremony that highlighted the positive impact she had on all the communities she was involved in: Minter, her hometown; Delta State University, the Mississippi Delta region; her four children; and their ten grandchildren. Harris is remembered as not only a basketball icon, but also as a loving mother. Sen. David Jordan of Greenwood stated, “I want everyone know that Lucy Harris, Mississippi Delta, land full of cotton and long roads through fields (was) the greatest basketball player in the entire world.” She’s the best. Harris, 66, died Jan. 18. Her silver coffin was decorated with colorful bouquets and a portrait of Harris sat beneath the banners that commemorated her three national titles. Harris, a Black woman, was the first Lady Statesmen to win the national title in 1975. She would repeat the feat two more times before she graduated. Harris scored the first ever basket in Women’s Olympic basketball and was the first and only woman to be offered an official NBA contract. Harris was pregnant with her first child when she turned down the offer. She took up a position as a basketball coach at Amanda Elzy High school in Greenwood. There, she learned how to play the game. Harris was honored by several legislators who presented proclamations during the ceremony. Inez Biles (chairperson of Minter City) stated that the community intends to erect an historical marker in honor Harris. Christopher Stewart, Harris’ youngest son, stated that Barack and Michelle Obama had written a letter to the family. Harris was humble about her achievements and her children shared lessons she had learned from her. Christopher spoke about how his mother was the first to teach him unconditional love and the importance of preserving and sacrificing. Harris’ stepson Antonio Harris said that Harris had the “sneakiest of laughs.” Christina Jordan, Harris’ youngest daughter, spoke about how Harris encouraged her to pursue her passion for chemistry. Crystal Washington, who is two minutes older than Christina, said that her mother was a great believer in “if you can imagine it, it can happen.” “So farewell mom, farewell queen.” Harris’ oldest son, George Stewart Jr., read a letter entitled “Just Mama to me” in which he stated that his mother was a strong, tall woman. He said that she was generous with her resources, humble, confident, and kind to all of us. We saw her pictures and newspaper clippings. She was proud of herself, but we didn’t know much. She would only say that she could shoot the basketball in the hoops. He cried, saying that she was “just Mama to me”. “She was a true queen, a hall-of-famer, a humanitarian and a sister. But most importantly she was Mama to me.” READ MORE. Why did the NBA draft Lucy Harris? It was a Mississippi man.