Founders’ Story
JANELLE AND MELBA HARRIS
As the mother-daughter duo of Melba and Janelle Harris, we are the proud lineage of the Ross Estate, established by Cleo and Ola Ross. Our family has preserved 90 years of continuous land ownership within the historic Pottstown community of Huntersville, North Carolina. We are driven by a profound responsibility to uphold the legacy of our ancestors, from sharecroppers to those enslaved, who built the foundation upon which we stand.
Janelle, the President of Mababu Live, is an active entrepreneur and parishioner at Saint Phillip Missionary Baptist Church in Pottstown. Appointed as the 2026 Huntersville Parks and Recreation Chair, she was also recognized as one of the 150 most influential citizens during the town’s sesquicentennial for her dedicated local outreach.
Melba serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of Mababu Live. Following a distinguished career with the Veterans Administration in Temple, Texas, she retired in 2022 and returned to her roots in Pottstown in late 2025. She is thrilled to be back home and eager to dedicate her time to enriching our local community.
Our Community Partners
Pottstown Youth Alliance
Fostering leadership and academic excellence for local residents.
Heritage Preservation Collective
Dedicated to archiving and celebrating our ancestral legacies.
Urban Greenery Initiative
Transforming empty lots into vibrant community gardens and play spaces.
Residents First Housing
Providing essential home repair and stabilization services.
Ancestral Arts Guild
Empowering local artists to express cultural identity through craft.
Community Growth Fund
Supporting small businesses to preserve the neighborhood's heartbeat.