70-year-old grandmother suffers a heart attack and dies hours after meeting President Obama

 

Obama and the crew: L-R Andrea Hubbard, granddaughter, Josephine 'Ann' Harris, Wilma Parsons, daughter, Kamari Durant, great granddaughter and Deanna Hubbard, daughter pose with President Obama

An Ohio grandmother tragically died of a heart attack on Friday, just hours after meeting President Barack Obama.
70-year-old Josephine ‘Ann’ Harris was said to be overjoyed when Obama walked into her restaurant, Ann’s Place at around 8.30am.
It was the President’s first stop on the second day of his ‘Betting on America’ tour, which takes him through Ohio and Pennsylvania.

He took an early break from the bus ride, sitting down for a hearty breakfast with three Goodyear tire workers at the South Hawkins Avenue diner.

 

‘What’s going on?’ he asked as he strolled in, the Times Reporter wrote, much to the delight of other customers who set down their knives and forks to shake hands with the President.
An ecstatic Harris hugged Obama and chatted to him as he enjoyed a feast of two eggs over easy, bacon and wheat toast, with grits added at a waitress’ suggestion, the news site reported.
Sitting at the corner of the counter, he said ‘thanks for joining me’ to fellow diners, one of whom called out: ‘keep up the good work.’

 

What's going on?: Diners set down their knives and forks to shake hands with the President

Surprise!: President Barack Obama shakes hands with waitress Toni as he arrives at Ann's Place

But excitement soon turned to heartache for the family of the restauranteur.
Not long after the presidential party left Harris began complaining of fatigue and a tingling feeling.
She was taken to hospital by ambulance where she was pronounced dead at 11.18am, having suffered a heart attack.

As the family grieved, Harris' sister Frankie Adkins told the Akron Beacon Journal the President’s visit was likely ‘her highlight’, adding: ‘She loved Obama.’
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama later called Harris' daughter Wilma Parsons from Air Force One to express 'his sorrow and his condolences'.

 

Tragic: Josephine 'Ann' Harris, 70, died just hours after meeting President Barack Obama on Friday on day two of his tour

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Four generations: From left to right Andrea Hubbard, Deanna Hubbard, Ann Harris, Wilma Parsons and Kamari Durant

'It was a very sad event,' Carney said. 'He was honored to meet (Harris) this morning and passed on his feeling that the whole family is in his thoughts and prayers.'
On day one of his tour Obama stopped off for a beer with locals at Ziggy’s Pub in Amherst. 
He spent the night at a hotel in Fairlawn and was today scheduled to stop in the Youngstown and Pittsburgh areas.