Clarence Harris: A Devoted Advocate for Hancock County

Good Neighbor - April 2025

Clarence Harris is a pillar of the Hancock County community: ever-present, particularly when the voices of underrepresented citizens need to be heard. 

- by Maurice Singleton

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Whether it’s at a Waveland Board of Aldermen meeting, a Bay St. Louis City Council session, or a Hancock County Board of Supervisors gathering, Clarence Harris is there often with thoughtful input on how decisions affect everyday people.

“I’ve always been kind of a motivated kid,” Harris said. “My stepfather was deeply involved in the community. He was a minister and active in many organizations, so I grew up surrounded by that sense of engagement.”

That drive has been with him ever since. In high school and in the years that followed, Harris was drawn to understanding how systems worked, and more importantly, how to make them better.

A 1967 graduate of Valena C. Jones High School in Bay St. Louis, Harris went on to attend Mississippi Valley State College in Itta Bena. A few years later he moved to Illinois, where he worked for three years before returning to Waveland. His time away coincided with the height of the civil rights movement and the turmoil of the Vietnam War, some of the most transformative years in American history.
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“Leaving this area was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Harris said. “I believe everyone, no matter where they're from – be it a big city or a small Mississippi town – needs to leave for a while. That’s when you realize your hometown is just a tiny dot on the map. You don’t learn that if you never leave.”

His return to Waveland was marked by a deepened commitment to civic engagement. “Back then, I didn’t see many people stepping up,” he said, “so it felt natural for me to get involved.”
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One of Harris’s proudest accomplishments was his role in preserving the legacy of Valena C. Jones School, the very school that shaped him. Alongside alumni and community members, Harris fought to save the building and secure its recognition as a historic site.

“It all started as a conversation between me and Arthur Clementine,” Harris recalled. “Sadly, Arthur passed away before we saw it through. But we were fortunate to gain the city's support, along with help from the Historical Society. Now we’re just waiting for the marker that will officially recognize Valena C. Jones as a historic landmark.”

Beyond local politics, Harris serves on several boards, including Waveland Helping Hands, the Hancock County Library Foundation, and the Hancock County Human Resources Agency, where his impact is tangible.

John Brdecka, executive director of the Hancock County Library System, described Harris as someone who keeps his finger on the pulse of Waveland.
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“He knows exactly where the needs are,” Brdecka said. “Clarence isn’t just a valuable member of the Library Foundation; his insight directly influences the programs we implement. He shows up, speaks up, and genuinely cares.”

Brdecka added, “We need more people like Clarence. He’s dependable, passionate, and always doing the work for the right reasons.”
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