GREENVILLE, S.C. – Emily Mary Maverick Perkins Harrison, beloved wife, daughter, sister, family member and friend died unexpectedly on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.

Emily was born at home in Winthrop, grew up in Wayne, and attended the Wayne Elementary and Maranacook Community Schools. She filled childhood days exploring nature, riding her pony and horse, playing soccer and skiing, and building friendships that lasted many years. Emily’s love of writing and art began to blossom in school through the support of several influential teachers and mentors. In her junior year she attended the New England Young Writers’ Conference at Bread Loaf in Vermont – a formative experience. As a senior at Maranacook she developed an independent project that later in the year became the Town of Wayne Farmers’ Market.

Emily attended Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, graduating with a degree in Spanish in 2014. In addition to Spanish she studied French and was also curious about other languages. During those years, she traveled across the country and to Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Emily was an intern at the Telling Room in Portland, worked in several Maine based restaurants and at Willow Pond Farm in Sabattus, and participated in writing workshops, most recently while in South Carolina. She could often be found writing, painting, drawing and photographing the world around her. In addition to her creative pursuits, Emily had gardens and plants wherever she lived, and turned to farming in 2019.

She moved to South Carolina in late 2019, where she delighted in growing vegetables year-round. She was a vendor at a number of farmers’ markets, mentored two college interns, developed close friendships and found love. In 2022, Emily and JD Harrison married by a waterfall in the southwest desert of Utah and then returned to build a life together in Greenville, SC. As partners they explored the Appalachian Mountains and art, and examined avenues for supporting economic and racial justice.

We ask those who would like to help celebrate Emily’s life to devote time to doing good work or enjoying the natural world on or near Earth Day, April 22, 2023.

A small graveside service was held at Baldwin Hill Conservation Cemetery in Fayette. 

Emily is survived by her husband JD and his extended family, parents Jim and Theresa, brother Daniel, sister-in-law Lauren, and many cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. We will carry her unforgettable smile, kindness, and love of the earth with us.

Arrangements are in the care of the Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St. Winthrop, where condolences and memories may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home website by visiting http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

In Emily’s honor, family and friends might consider donating to a program that helps people who work hard growing food in a manner that is good for people and the land or to organizations that address the many challenges of today’s complex world.

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (PO Box 170, Unity ME 04988)

and the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (PO Box 448,

Pittsboro NC, 27312)

are two organizations that support these

important efforts.