George Mark Harkins

George Mark Harkins, of Brandon, Mississippi, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Jackson, Mississippi, at the age of 66.

A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Ott & Lee Funeral Home on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 2:00 pm with visitation from 1:00 to 2:00 pm.

George was born in Louisiana to Alvin Wayne Ridgway and Sylvia Warren and was adopted by Rev. George William Harkins and Martha Mahaffey Harkins on December 6, 1958. He lived in multiple places across Louisiana growing up, as his father was a Methodist minister. His hobbies included all sports, target shooting, bowling, and military history, and he was an avid New Orleans Saints and LSU fan. He had a great sense of humor that can be described as “dry and witty”. Most of all, he loved his family and spending time with his grandchildren and attending their events and activities, and spending time with his cousin Ed Wood on Sundays watching football.

In November of 2017, after some urging from his genealogist wife, he was able to connect with his biological family and considered himself extremely blessed to have two loving families.

George is preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Sarah Beth Byars Harkins; children, Preston Harkins (Elizabeth) and Rachel Haslob (Ryan); grandchildren, Celeste, Nikki, Carter, Leland, Maddax, Oliver, Elliot, Maia, and Livi Rue; and siblings, Kathy Daughdrill (Wayne), Melvyn Williams (Sherrill), Peggy Lentz (Martin), and Patti Moss (Houston); and many nieces and nephews, both newly discovered and old.