Joan Valerie Harris, beloved mother, grandmother, sister and Metro-North Railroad retiree died May 28, 2014 at the Saint Mary's Hospital and Hospice. She was born February 18, 1947 in Bronx, NY to parents, Jack Wynn (independent businessman) and Clarice High (hairdresser and homemaker); and was raised between New York and Arkansas with her two sisters, Janet Wynn and Marcel Banks. Joan graduated from the Lauringburg Institute, but was almost one of the "Little Rock Nine" students transferred to Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Joan was someone who always spoke her mind... and after much consideration, the principal decided that Joan's bold personality would probably not be the best fit for the segregated school.  Ever-ambitious, Joan went on to launch her own typing businesses, as well as work for successful conglomerates like Time Warner, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Metro-North Railroad -- where she worked for 31 years as a ticket agent and customer service representative. She loved her MTA family, and was a resident of Bridgeport for 25 years. She lived for her three daughters: Cherisse Harris, Susan Harris, and Alexis Christmas; and her grandson, Devon. -- often working two jobs to provide for their future. She is survived by her daughters, her grandson, her two sisters, and ex-husband Michael Harris. A true matriarch of her family, she will be dearly missed. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 7th at 9:30am in the Redgate-Hennessey Funeral Home, Main Street and Gorham Place, Trumbull. Refuge Temple will officiate. Interment will follow in Mountain Grove Cemetery, Bridgeport. Those who wish may make a contribution in her memory to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. To send condolences please visit www.redgatehennessy.com