Newlywed Man, 95, Dies After Wife Taken Away
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A 95-year-old newlywed Virginia
man has died just weeks after his 96-year-old wife
was taken away by family members to Florida.
Eddie Harrison died Tuesday in a hospital after
suffering from influenza , said Rebecca Wright, who
was caring for the couple in their Alexandria,
Virginia, home. Harrison became distressed after
his wife and longtime companion, 96-year-old
Edith Hill, was taken away, Wright said. Wright is
Hill's daughter.
"He lived for her, and she lived for him. It's the
love story of the century," Wright said, recalling
how they would dance, take walks and care for
each other.
Harrison and Hill's marriage this year after 10
years of companionship was disputed in court.
Their wedding was problematic because Hill has
been declared legally incapacitated for several
years. Another of Hill's daughters, Patricia Barber,
contested the marriage, saying it would complicate
the eventual distribution of Hill's estate. But Hill
and Harrison said they wanted to stay together.
A judge appointed a new guardian for Hill to
protect her interests, removing Barber and Wright
as guardians, but left the marriage intact.
The interracial aspect of the marriage also was
unique because the two longtime Virginians would
not have been allowed to marry if they had met in
their 20s, 30s or 40s under state law at the time.
On Dec. 6, Hill's guardian arrived to take Hill away
to Barber's home in Florida for what was supposed
to be a two-week vacation. Police were called to
the home during a traumatic 40-minute
negotiation to convince Hill to leave, Wright said.
When Hill did not return home as planned after two
weeks, Harrison began to realize she was not
coming back, Wright said. Daisy Birch, a family
friend, said Harrison was heartbroken. He also
became ill with the flu and checked himself into a
hospital.
A dispute continues between the two sisters,
Barber and Wright, over Hill's affairs and place of
residence.
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