NATCHEZ — What worries Hattie Harris most is the thought of looking back on her life and knowing she didn’t help enough people along the way.

But with 49 years of volunteering at the Adams County On the Move 4-H Club and countless hours at the parent centers of several Natchez-Adams School District schools under her belt, Harris said the thought doesn’t keep her up at night.

“I know one day I won’t be able to help like I’ve been able to do, so I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to give back to my community,” Harris said. “I don’t want to look back and say, ‘I wish I had done this or done that.’”

The Natchez native spends a good deal of her time split between various organizations and groups, but said the 4-H Club and the parent center at Natchez High School and the Freshman Academy take up the majority of her time.

Harris has two granddaughters — Jasmine Winding and Chelsea White — who attend NHS and said she visits the parent center to help them with whatever she can.

But Harris also has the other NHS students and parents in mind, and she’s a strong promoter of the parent centers, which provide worksheets, reading material and other resources for parents.

“They just have all this good information that parents should really be taking advantage of,” Harris said. “Everything a child needs, you will find it at the NHS parent center, and the door is always open for them.”

Harris is involved in the high school’s Parent-Teacher-Student Association and has volunteered her time through numerous school organizations, such as the Drug Awareness Posse, Special Olympics and Beta Club.

The 4-H Club, Harris said, is one that will always have a place in her heart.

Harris initially became involved with the organization when she was in school and found guidance in other volunteers who helped her along the way.

“The impact I got from the lady that was teaching us 4-H is what made me want to get involved all those years later,” Harris said. “Someone was helping me when I was young, so I want to give back to whoever, whenever and wherever.”

Harris’ work with the organization has taken her and the students to various conferences and trips all across the country including New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and West Virginia.

At each conference or trip, Harris said she puts the organization’s motto — learn by doing — to good use.

“We go to all hands-on workshops where we learn how to make different things, and then we come back and teach the children how to do it,” Harris said. “Or sometimes, I’ll get the children who were able to attend to teach the children who weren’t able to go.

“The whole point of all of this is to help enhance the children and help them go higher and higher in life.”

Harris’ commitment to the organization is one David Carter, who is the director of the Adams County Extension Service, has seen for three years working alongside the committed volunteer.

“There are some people you have to go seek and find to help, but Hattie comes wanting to work for any cause and you never have to ask her for help,” Carter said. “A lot of the kids look up to her, and she’s an asset at every level.”

With no intention of slowing down anytime soon, Harris said she’ll continue to give back to her community in whatever way she can.

“If I can help just one person along the way, I know my life will not have been lived in vain,” Harris said. “As long as God gives me the strength, I’ll continue doing what I can.”