'Inspiring' Black Country woman leaves £200,000 gift to Compton Care
An “inspiring” woman from the Black Country has left a £200,000 gift to a hospice to ensure people are given help in their hour of need.
Ethel Harris, from Wolverhampton, died on March 17 aged 93 – and chose to donate the proceeds from her estate to Compton Care.
Mrs Harris, who lived in Dovedale Road, was married to her late husband Ronald Harris with the pair living and working solely in the Black Country.
Compton Hospice, now known as Compton Care, was chosen due to the couple’s admiration of the charity’s work. The money comes from the sale of the couple’s home, savings and investments.
Mrs Harris was described as being strong, kind and hardworking – along with being incredibly motivated – and enjoyed travelling to exotic locations with her husband.
They loved to sample different types of food, as well as the accompanying alcoholic beverages, and enjoyed the “good things in life” – leading to Mrs Harris wanting to do “something special”.
She wanted to help people in Wolverhampton – and wider Black Country – who rely on the hospice for support by leaving the donation.
Adrian Turner said his aunt was “very much missed” by people who knew her – and joked she deserved a statue outside Molineux as a fitting legacy to her generosity.
He said: “My aunt was an inspiring woman and I felt pride and admiration for her massive generosity when she first told me of her wishes to donate her estate to Compton Care.
"She had undergone a tortuous final few months but never lost her spirit or her knowledge of what was the right thing to do for the best of all.
"She fully understood as to how with such a considerable amount of money, Compton Care could help others in real need, and this would then become an amazing use of her legacy.
“We joked that a statue would be unveiled next to Billy Wright outside the Molineux.
"She is very much missed by those who truly loved her, but she is now catching up with her beloved Ron and that’s as it should be.”
