Harrison Gill, Jr.

On Monday morning, April 8, 2024, Harrison went home to the Lord.

He reached a personal goal on February 21st this year when he celebrated his 100th birthday.

Harrison always had a quick smile and handshake. His friendly nature was a gift that put people at ease and allowed him to connect with just about anyone. He had a way to make others around him smile and laugh.

During WWII, while a senior in high school, he and his cousin heard the call from Uncle Sam and skipped school, hopped a train to New Orleans and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served many years in the Pacific theatre, based in the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. He would later be assigned to the Philippines to support the rebuilding of local villages. While there, he also worked on the Main Road construction project that connected the islands.

Back home in Amite, Harrison married Margaret Dykes and they had a son, Harrison Gill III.

Harrison trained and worked as an electrical lineman in Baton Rouge before moving to the Gibson/Bayou Black area to install electrical lines where he connected numerous homes in the area with electricity for the first time! He eventually worked at the Capitol in Baton Rouge, and lobbied for the LA Electric Co-op in Washington D.C.

Harrison was asked to give a young woman a ride to work one morning. That young woman turned out to be Melba Bergeron. You could say ‘a spark flew’ that changed the course of their lives. Melba and Harrison eventually married. Their loving union lasted over 67 years.

Harrison retired from the Louisiana Association of Rural Electric Co-ops and had more time to pursue his favorite hobbies: fishing, gardening, hunting, and spending time with friends and family. Harrison never left you empty-handed, whether sharing a story, a joke, or sending you home with bounty from his garden, his generosity spoke to his good nature.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harrison Gill Sr and Mamie Davidson Gill.

He will be deeply missed by his wife, Melba Gill, sister Judith LaCour, his children Harrison (Buddy) Gill III (DeeDee), Penny (Rafe), David (Lisa), Kimberly (Mike) and Kyle, and grandchildren: Jason, Cerissa (Kathleen), Jacob, Lane, Christian and Molly.

Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate his life on Friday, April 19, at St. Anthony Catholic Church on Bayou Black. Public viewing will begin at 9:30 AM. A memorial mass will be held at 11:30 AM.