About 10 years ago, Gethsemane Apostolic Church was filled to the brim from the sanctuary to the street. Unfortunately, it was a funeral that brought so many people together.
However, in the midst of the crowd, one young boy stood out despite his small stature.
What made him stand tall was his voice, which touched all who gathered there that day. That young boy was the deceased’s cousin; he was only 6 years old at the time.
Mareo Harris, now 16, still sings, even directing his church’s youth choir in addition to singing on the praise team and mass choir at Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church (EMBC). His talent, dedication to his craft and faith, and willingness to always help others have made him stand out.
EMBC First Lady and Minister of Music Sibyl Webster, who said she has known Harris since he was “a curly-haired little boy,” greatly appreciates his contributions to the church.
“Since he’s been there at Emmanuel, he’s found a home in so many different areas because he’s got a servant heart,” Webster said. “He’s always that willing hand … not only just in the music department … And he’s such a gentleman, always extending a hand to help the ladies up the stairs.”
Harris, who is particularly known for his singing, greatly values that ability.
“Singing is a way that I touch people,” Harris said. “Like somebody said to me, … ‘We may be the only Bible people see.’ … So, if I can reach somebody by singing this song, then my living shall not be in vain.”
But Harris’ reach is not limited to just his church. He has even performed with local gospel artists such as Paul Herbert Pitts, Sherri Garrison and Lamar Campbell. He also works for Real Taste Catering, has his own lawn care business and works at ROCK Community Center for Youth and Children (RCYC) at Eastern Star Church.
At the RCYC, he made a particular impression on one of his co-workers, Renee Bacon, who is also a member of EMBC. She said he always entertains his co-workers and the children he works with, bringing smiles to their faces. That energy is not just restricted to the RCYC.
Mark Webster, owner of Real Taste Catering, recalls falling asleep, and Harris took a few pictures and sent them to coworkers.
“I laughed at it, but he’s a jokester,” Mark Webster said. “Either I joke on him, or he jokes on me.”
Over the years, Harris has participated in multiple school activities, including being the vice president of Lawrence Central High School’s Black Heritage Society during the 2024-25 school year. He almost single-handedly organized a talent show for the club’s fundraiser, even performing with his peers as The Temptations. It was met with rave reviews.
But things haven’t always been easy for Harris. Over the years, Harris has lost multiple family members, including the aforementioned cousin and his father, Clifton Lee Green.
Harris said that Green’s death hit him hard because Green was one of his biggest inspirations, specifically his love of working with youth. Despite this, Harris managed to move forward.
“My family, we do pretty good,” Harris said. “… We keep moving forward. … When I get behind closed doors, it gets kinda crazy. But nevertheless, the Lord is there.”
Another thing that has kept him grounded during his hardest times is his Christian faith. He considers prayer a go-to solution for his problems. His faith is so important to him that he has been known to either ride his bike or Uber to church.
Although Harris has many responsibilities, he still finds time to look out for his family, which includes three younger siblings. He checks on his mom and younger sister who he no longer lives with, sends them money and attends his other younger sister’s school concerts.
“He’s always looking out for them, he’s always doing something for them, or he wants to make sure that his sister is feeling included,” Sybil Webster said. “He doesn’t push up on anybody, but he just makes sure that she’s okay in the mix of things as well. …(He’s) never selfish with his resources but always wants to make sure that they’re well taken care of.”
This selflessness aligns with his career goal of being a police officer.
“It’s something I always wanted,” Harris said. “… I just like helping people and serving people.”
For him, the value of service has been instilled in him from a young age.
Bacon said one noteworthy thing about Harris is his determination.
“If you take the community that a young man like Mareo comes out of, there’s always all this negativity that you hear, and a lot of young men his age are really in survival mode,” Bacon said. “But what I see is a young man who’s thriving. … He’s got a mind to do better. So, in spite where [sic] he may have come from, he’s not letting that determine where he’s going.”
Deidrick Dickerson is a 2025 Indianapolis Recorder Journalism and Writing Seminar (JAWS) intern and a student at Pike High School.
