Harriet Lorraine Schroeder, Md

Harriet Lorraine Schroeder, MD went home to heaven unexpectedly on July 13, 2021, at age 83. She was a beloved sister, aunt and great aunt, a well-respected radiologist, and most importantly a follower of Jesus.

Harriet was born to George William and Lorraine Antoinette Wilson Schroeder on March 4, 1938, in Pinckneyville, Ill., moving to Memphis as a child when her father went to work for the Brotherhood Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention; he later led the Brotherhood Commission for almost 20 years.

The oldest of three siblings, Harriet is survived by younger brothers and their wives, George Torrington Schroeder (Mary Olivia Gann Schroeder) and Lawson Lee Schroeder (Carole Lynne Malone Schroeder), respectively, as well as eight nephews and nieces and their many children - all of whom knew her as Aunt Harriet and loved her for her quirky fun personality and boundless energy.

Harriet became a follower of Jesus at age 9 in a Sunday School assembly, later saying that despite growing up in a Christian home, that was the first moment she understood her personal sinfulness and need for a Savior. She later wrote that the “wonderful life-changing event occurred … when a special emphasis on salvation had been presented,” adding that Sunday school teachers should “take heart,” because “kids really are listening to what you say.”

Harriet played basketball for East High School in Memphis. After graduation in 1956, she matriculated at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., earning a Bachelor of Science. She earned a Master of Science in biology at Memphis State University, then taught biology at Hardin-Simmons University and Belmont University before entering the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, where she earned an M.D. in 1967. After a three-year residency in Radiology, she practiced for two years at the Veterans Administration hospital in Memphis; she spent the remaining decades of her career practicing medicine as a Locum Tenens at multiple hospitals in Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Georgia.

Although Harriet never married, her life was incredibly full. She loved to travel, especially with family and friends. With her mother, her brothers and their wives, Harriet explored the United States and much of the globe by car, air, train and ship, always up for adventure. The most treasured times she shared with companions on those trips were the meals and times of fellowship, just sitting and talking - and laughing - about anything and everything.

She also had a slightly off-kilter diet. Countless times, she offered goldfish crackers to staff members at the radiology departments in which she worked. One of her favorite dishes to prepare and serve for visiting nephews and nieces was “popcorn casserole” - or microwave popcorn.

Harriet had a private pilot’s license and flew all over. She also owned and rode a motorcycle, and for several years she delighted in taking cross-country trips in a camper van.

For many years, Harriet taught for Precept Ministries, traveling throughout the United States to conduct seminars in how to study the Bible using the inductive method. An early adopter of the Internet, she wrote a series of online Bible courses for her own ministry (Yes Lord Ministries), posting them beginning in 1995 at the site Biblestudies.net as an encouragement and outreach ministry. She also enjoyed posting to a companion site she called “Daily Interesting Things,”
http://biblestudiesnet.blogspot.com/ which consisted of anything she found, well, interesting. Her final entry, dated June 6, 2021, was a hymn: “A Wonderful Savior is Jesus My Lord.” The preceding entry’s topic was how to pick ripe cantaloupes and honeydew melons. In May, she posted a video: “How to fold a shirt in under 2 seconds.”

In college, Harriet served as a student summer missionary in Ohio. She later served on several mission trips, including two months in 1982 as a volunteer radiologist and guest lecturer at the Baptist Hospital in Bangalore, India. She also served on a mission trip to China with a group from First Baptist Church of Little Rock.

In recent years, Harriet was active in the Chattanooga Amateur Ham Radio Club, obtaining her Ham license in 2011 (Call sign: KK4EAO) and joining the club the next year. She served on its board for more than five years, including as chair. Upon learning of her death, Gary S. Ownsby, director of the club for 2020-22, wrote: “I loved that wiry little ole lady…she was always a ‘hoot’” - and reading his description, her entire family and likely anyone who knew her would nod in affirmation.

Absolutely, Harriet was always a hoot.

She will be honored on Sunday, August 8 at 1:00 PM with a graveside service at the Mueller Hill Cemetery in Pinckneyville, Ill. The family gratefully declines flowers, but among the multiple ministries Harriet is leaving a portion of her estate to are: the Jesus Film Project; Mission India; and the Institution for Creation Research. Donations may be sent in her honor to any of those three ministries. Prayers, condolences and memories are gladly appreciated.