One of Pastor Nick’s 450 classmates has written about him for their alumni website, the class of 1962 at RJR High School in Winston-Salem, NC. We thought it would be fun and enlightening for all of us to learn more about “Nicky”!
Dear RJR62 Classmates,
Our RJR62 classmate, Nick Harris from the state of Washington, stayed with Betty and I in Summerville, SC during his travels after his wife’s death. We all had a great time as Nick filled us in on his life after leaving Reynolds High School, some 63 plus years ago. He talked about the sad times and the glad times. Over the years, he and Judy have attended all but one of our reunions, but most of us never had an opportunity to hear his story. While visiting with us, he told us about his wonderful life with his wife, Judy and his three sons.
Nick is still the good old down-to-earth guy that he always was, except now he carries this guy he calls Jesus with him every where he goes. He talked about his sons, his conversion and becoming a pastor and then a missionary. Betty and I found Nick to be a joy to be with, and we believe that his and Judy’s life has been a gift of heavenly love sent from God. Just the short time we spent with Nick enriched our spiritual life. Nick makes the RJR Class of 1962 proud. I have tried to capture some of Nick and Judy’s life story and put it in print for you to read.
PS: By the way, It’s going to blow your mind!
Danny Ferguson
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO NICKY HARRIS?
NICKY AND HIS REBELLIOUS YOUTH
The Stan and Ginger Harris family moved to Winston Salem from Lenoir when Nicky was just a tot. His father had taken a job as the superintendent of the Winston Salem Water and Sewer Division. Nick has an older sister, Stephanie Harris Norman (RJR59) and a younger sister, Libby Harris Farrell (RJR64).
In the early fifties in Winston Salem, the Harris family first lived on Elizabeth Avenue in Ardmore, then later on Pennsylvania Avenue in the Country Club area. The children entered grade school at Whitaker Elementary and as the years passed, they matriculated to R.J. Reynolds High School. It is there in the 8th grade where many of us met Nicky. Usually, with a smile on his face and a glint of mischievousness in his eyes, Nick was well-liked but had a serious deportment problem. In fact, some have said that he was a juvenile delinquent. (the same thing was also said about me and many of my buddies, but I won’t mention any other names).
Perhaps an underlying reason for Nick’s troubles stemmed from one of the most terrible moments imaginable. As a teenager, he was home when his mother committed suicide and found her body. Only God knows what emotional damage this might have done. Certainly, such an experience would leave an indelible imprint on a young person’s being for the rest of their life. So, from early on, Nick had a lot to overcome.
When Nick was 17 years old and a senior at Reynolds High, his life was in a crash dive, tail spinning down to who-knew-where. Then came the straw that broke the camel’s back! Nick had been given the opportunity to drive a late model Ford with a big interceptor engine. It was no-beer Sunday in Winston Salem, so Nicky and a carload of friends headed to Greensboro to buy beer. With Budweiser on their minds, the interceptor engine roared as Nick sped down the road toward Greensboro at speeds as high as117 miles per hour. The police stopped him, and in a split second, Nick’s life was changed!
HERE COMES THE JUDGE!
It was a grim moment in the Greensboro Courthouse when the wily old judge peered down through his thick spectacles, looking point blank into young Nicky’s eyes. “Young man,” the judge growled, his face scrunched in a scowl. “You have two options! First, I can put you on the chain gang for six months repairing the roads of Guilford County, or secondly, you can get the hell out of North Carolina by joining the military and getting as far away from this county as you can get!”
For a split second, Nick’s mind danced in befuddlement -what to do, what to do? But it was a no-brainer. “Judge,” Nick finally replied, “I may be stupid, but I’m not crazy. I’ll take the second option – I will join the military
Soon, Nick was on the way to California where he went to Navy basic training in San Diego, then after that, he was headed for the Naval Air Station at Oak Harbor, Washington. There, he would serve on aircraft carriers, helping to outfit and prepare pilots for their Navy air wing service.
GOD SMILES
It happened when Nick was on liberty and some 20 miles away from the base in the small town of Mt. Vernon, Washington. There, he met some high school kids, one of whom was a beautiful young lady – actually, according to Nick, “she was a “knockout!” Nick was instantly and permanently smitten! Her name was Judy Limoges. She was 16, Nick was 17. She was beautiful and – “wow!” as Nick would say, “what a shape!” Nick and Judy started dating in the summer of 1962 and the courtship flourished. Judy liked this down-home southern boy who they called REB, and she particularly liked his tar heel accent. At first Nick was a novelty, but soon he was an item.
CAN I SAY “KNOCKED UP “IN CHURCH?
It wasn’t long before Judy found herself pregnant or, as Nick would say some sixty plus years later at Judy’s memorial service. – “She got knocked up,” then in a way that only Nicky could do, he feigned having misspoken and said, “Uh, oh, can you say that in church? “Then, with a Nicky Harris gleam in his eyes and a mischievous grin on his face, he made a tongue and cheek correction – “I meant to say, “She was with child.” Nick’s humor turned the otherwise mournful occasion into a joyous celebration of this woman that he loved so very much.
MARRIAGE PLANS
So, back in 1962, Nick and Judy began making marriage plans. Of course, Judy was a Roman Catholic and Nick was “flexible.” He and Judy went to meet with the priest who told him he would perform the wedding, provided Nick would become a Catholic. Nick’s response was, “I would become a hamburger to marry Judy!” So, Nicky agreed to attend Catechism classes. Nick and Judy did attend one class and then got married, but that was it for Catechism classes.
NAVY RULES RULE
Thereafter, with Nick still in the Navy and still having a chip on his shoulder, he ran into another obstacle. – Navy Rules – He got himself caught slipping off base to see his new wife Judy, then got caught two more times. Soon he was brought before the Commanding Officer on a Rule 19, Captain’s Mast – a court martial. He was about to be kicked out of the Navy with a bad conduct discharge for his multiple AWOLs – but then, an amazing intervention took place. Just in the nick of time, 17-year-old Judy, still pregnant with child, boldly went directly to the commanding officer’s home and persuaded him to give her husband another chance. Amazingly, the CO backed down and allowed Nick to dodge the bad conduct discharge bullet and serve the rest of his term in the Navy with honor.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
NICKY BECOMES A COP! GO FIGURE!
On June 28, 1963, Judy and Nick had their first child – “Mike.” With Nick out of the Navy, he became of all things, a police officer in Anacortes, Washington. “If you can’t beat ‘em, join’ em,” Nick would say. Amazingly, for the next six years, Nick, of all people, worked as an undercover police officer. Much of his territory included the many ferry terminals in the area, which were dangerous places and known for drug trafficking. Fortunately, Nick safely weathered the danger.
Judy went to work as a meat wrapper at Safeway but later changed jobs and became a secretary/principal for Whitney Elementary School. She took her job seriously and looked after the kids with a vengeance, even standing up to her supervisor for their sake. She did her job well and was well loved.
Meanwhile, Nick and Judy were busy. On May 29,1964, child number 2 – Rick – was born. On December 6, 1965, child number 3 -Todd – was born. Finally, after six years as a cop, Nick changed jobs and became a Ford Motors car salesman. He excelled and he kept advancing and after years of faithful service, he was offered an opportunity to become the principal owner of the Frontier Ford Dealership in Anacortes, Washinton where he stayed for 17 years.
MIKE, RICK AND TODD
Over the remainder of the 70s and most of the 80s, life appeared to go really well. Nick and Judy’s three boys did well through their teenaged years, and all were good athletes in all sports. They were all-Northwest this, and all-Northwest that, and Rick was even a state champion in wrestling. Frequently one or the other would get their names in the paper for their accomplishments. They made their mom and dad proud!
LIFE TAKES A FRIGHTENING DOWNTURN
For a while, all was well, but just when Nick thought he had the world by the tail, just after school ended and Mike had graduated, things really started to change. Nick and Judy were confronted with a new fear, a fear so dreadful that it would almost consume them.
“Why were the boys having developmental problems?” Nick and Judy asked themselves. After all, their upbringing had been good and certainly it was not without love – but they had to concede that it was WITHOUT JESUS.
Much of the problem manifested itself when Mike began having severe emotional issues. Nick’s lifetime experiences had given him some insight at recognizing such developmental problems – even the signs of suicidal tendencies. The situation became increasingly dire, and soon Nick saw suicide written all over Mike’s lifestyle.
AN EPIPHANY?
Just when he was at the corner of Alaska and Oaks Avenue, Krakatoa erupted and slammed Nick like a sledge hammer to the face! It seemed like an Apostle Paul on-the-road-to-Damacus moment! Was it a divine message from God? Nick didn’t know, but the moment bought him to an abrupt stop, and made him look up at the big moon in the sky. Then, words like he had never before uttered came pouring out of his mouth. “JESUS!” Nick screamed out beseechingly, “IF YOU ARE REAL, YOU GET INSIDE ME AND NEVER GET OUT!”
Amazingly, what happened next would set the stage for Nick’s life to come. Was it an epiphany? Well, it sure felt like it because suddenly, Nick had faith! Suddenly, he was a full-fledged believer!
Nick rushed back home and told Judy he was going to church the next day. Judy was stunned. “What?” she retorted. “We haven’t been to church since we were married!” Still astounded, she asked, “What church are you going to?”
Nick replied, ” I’m going to “His Place Church,” the church of my old golfing buddy, Larry Wersen. The next morning at “His Place Church”, Nick answered the altar call, accepted Jesus, and his life changed forever. Judy had first said she would go back to her old Catholic Church but soon changed her mind and came to “His Place Church” where she also accepted Jesus. From then on, she and Nick became devoted members of the “His Place Church” and from here on out, they were both Followers of Christ for life. And, as Nick would say 39 years later, “Being committed to Christ has been quite a ride!
“HIS PLACE CHURCH”
Thereafter, Nick and Judy became very active at “His Place Church. Early on, Nick was put in charge of the youth group. As he took on more church duties, he and Judy remained concerned about their son, Mike’s wellbeing. Amazingly, Nick decided that based on his prayers, God had told him that his harping to Mike about Jesus would be counterproductive. Rather than bombarding Mike with “Jesus’ talk” he should let God take care of that. Of course, Nick did ask his friend Roger, who lived near Mike for assistance. Roger promised to invite Mike to a Bible Study and do anything else he could to help.
Meanwhile, Nick’s work at “His Place Church” became more intense. A special day came when Nick had already officiated at eighteen baptisms at the church swimming pool. By this time, he had still not heard from Mike for seven long months even though Mike lived only twenty minutes away in Anacortes, Washington. Of course, Nick and Judy were worried, but their faith in God remained strong.
THE SWEET BUZZ OF LOVE!
Then, seemingly out of the blue, Nick’s cell phone buzzed! It was Mike! “How sweet it was! In the conversation, Nick mentioned that he had just finished baptizing EIGHTEEN PEOPLE in the swimming pool at “His Place Church.” Mike’s next words would echo repeatedly in Nick’s and Judy’s ears forever. Mike responded, “HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE IT NINETEEN?” Tears flowed like Niagara and Nick and Judy melted like marsh mellows! Their hearts were doing flipflops, and they were totally ecstatic! Their prayers had been answered! Shortly, Nick and Judy headed to Heart Lake in Anacortes where they met Mike. There, Nick baptized their beloved son and Mike became a “Follower of Christ!” Thank you, Jesus!
Over the years since, Mike, Rick, and Todd have done well. Mike has become a much sought-after stone mason, a loving son, and a member of Christ the King Church in Anacortes. Second son, Rick, the state wrestling champion, is the father of Nick and Judy’s only grandson, Tyler. Third son, Todd is doing well and is the manager of a golf course in the area. All three of the boys are Godly people and Nick and Judy are so very proud of them.
Nick and Judy became “His Place Church” missionaries. After first getting mission training in Hawaii, and then after helping to build a church in Japan, they elected to specialize in “third world construction,” about which Judy knew less than nothing – but she was a quick study. Soon, she could talk construction like a pro. She was quite amazing,
THE ISLAND OF LUZON IN THE PHILLIPINES
After getting a call about a Christian need in the Philippines, Nick and Judy flew directly from Japan to the Philippine Island of Luzon, then traveled to the village of Calew in the northern mountains. There, amidst mountains and jungles, they undertook God’s work, helping an amazing lady named Pastora Andesa Bautista and members of the village to build the first church ever for the hill-dwelling Ibaloi people.
Nick will never forget that while in Calew, he was asked to bless a newborn baby boy. Answering the call, he went to a small humble house and met the mother and held her newborn in his arms and gave God’s blessing.
After many months, Nick and Judy finally returned home and based on his missionary work, “His Place Church” offered him a position as missions pastor, a position which Nick thereafter held for over the next 31 years. In that capacity, he and Judy would travel back and forth to the Philippines every year and spend about a month each time as they continued their missionary work there. Nick and Judy would grow to know and love the people of Calew. There, they were known as Papa Nick and Mama Judy.
Over the years, Papa Nick would baptize many, and in 2005, he baptized the same little boy to whom he had given God’s blessing back in 1992. And, in time, many years later in 2012, he would officiate at the wedding of the same little boy, now a young man, who he had earlier blessed, then baptized.
In their Filipino travels, Papa Nick and Mama Judy spent much time in the mountainous jungles around Calew, where they continued their work, helping to build eighteen more churches, a Bible college, a K through 12 Christian school, five day care centers and an orphanage. Through it all, they worked to the Glory of God and were powered by Christian love. It gave them immeasurable satisfaction and contentment and clearly their selfless and incredible work made the world a better place.
ALZHEIMER’S THWARTS THINGS
In 2012, Nick’s wonderful Judy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’ s. Even though the Philippine ministry continued to grow, the trips to the Philippines came to an end. For the next thirteen years while Pastor Nick kept close contact with the Philippine ministry, helping with their needs as best he could, his new primary task was overseeing his most important ministry – that is, being the caregiver for God’s daughter, his precious Judy.
Judy ‘s mind had been slipping and getting worse. She was sometimes childlike. Nick might say, “Judy, you are beautiful – and she would respond with a wide smile on her face and get teary eyes and respond, “Oh thank you!” Then, like he had never said it before, a short while later, he might say the same thing again and she would respond in same way, like she had never heard it before.
Taking care of Judy was hard work but it was Nick’s great privilege and a labor of love. It was the glorious opportunity that God had given him to bring his Judy happiness and show his appreciation for her love, her loyal support and her companionship for all these many years. Nick would say, “ I prayed for her healing and finally it came on July 25, 2025, when God took her to be with him.
Pastor Nick paraphrases Romans 8:23, saying that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God who is also making intercession for us – but Nick adds, “Guess who is sitting on his lap interceding for me – “MY PRECIOUS JUDY!”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR PASTOR NICK
Pastor Nick and late wife Judy spent thirty-nine years doing God’s work. Their work will go on and Nick is already planning another mission trip to the Philippines in March of 2026. Also, shortly after Judy’s Memorial service in July, Nick hit the road on a journey across America to see relatives, old friends and new friends and spread God’s love to all that would listen.
One of his visits was to see Durenda Wilson and her husband, Daryl in Winston-Salelm, NC . Durenda is a beautiful and brilliant lady who Nick has known for many years. She was struggling from a draining and emotional struggle with cancer.
Durenda shared this about her visit from Nick:
Today Jesus visited Darryl and me in the person of Nick Harris. We have known Nick for 36 years, but hadn’t seen him in 8 years. We knew each other back in Washington, but he happened to be in town and asked if we could meet for coffee.
I had a CT scan this morning (results next Wednesday) which is always an emotionally draining appt for us, but as we sat at the table and listened to Nick share what the last 14 years have been like for him as he lovingly cared for his wife who had dementia and went to be with the Lord on July 25th, we were filled with hope and confidence in God’s gracious mercies for His people when He asks them to walk hard roads.
Nick prayed over me and held me tightly more than once, kissing my cheek and my forehead while I cried. I felt and knew in such a tangible way, the deep, deep love of Jesus for us, especially as we walk through trials and afflictions. My doubts about whether I was being faithful enough during this cancer journey melted away as I was simply held and loved.
All of us who know the Lord can be to those around us, what Nick was for me today. Our world and its people are hurting and broken and the only connection they have with heaven and who Jesus really is, is US. WE are the hands and feet of Jesus.
May we be found faithful to represent Him with simple faith and deep love for others.
WE are the hands and feet of Jesus. May WE be found faithful to represent HIM with simple faith and deep love for others.
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Respectfully prepared and submitted by:
Danny T. Ferguson
