The Rev. Jesse Jackson and his son have stopped at Ann's Place. So have several professional football players. For Josephine "Ann" Harris, however, none came close to President Obama visiting her West Akron restaurant. He was her hero.
Harris, who didn't know Obama planned to visit until earlier Friday, sat at a booth with a wet towel around her neck. "He treated us like one of the brothers," she said. "He hugged all of us and ... got his picture taken with all of us."
Within hours of Obama's visit, Harris, who had been ill for some time, complained of fatigue and a tingling feeling. She was taken to Akron General Medical Center, where she died about 11:15 a.m., according to the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office.
Her relatives and customers, saddened by her death, were pleased she was able to meet the president.
"I'm sure this was her highlight," said Frankie Adkins, Harris' sister, who lives in Tulsa, Okla., and had just heard about her sister's sudden death. "She loved Obama."
White House press secretary Jay Carney said Obama later called Harris' daughter, Wilma Parsons, from Air Force One to express "his sorrow and his condolences. It was a very sad event. He was honored to meet (Harris) this morning and passed on his feeling that the whole family is in his thoughts and prayers."
Obama's trip to Ann's Place was his first stop in the second day of a bus tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania. He stayed overnight at the Hilton in Fairlawn, Ohio.
Within hours of Obama's visit, Harris, who had been ill for some time, complained of fatigue and a tingling feeling. She was taken to Akron General Medical Center, where she died about 11:15 a.m., according to the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office.
Her relatives and customers, saddened by her death, were pleased she was able to meet the president.
"I'm sure this was her highlight," said Frankie Adkins, Harris' sister, who lives in Tulsa, Okla., and had just heard about her sister's sudden death. "She loved Obama."
White House press secretary Jay Carney said Obama later called Harris' daughter, Wilma Parsons, from Air Force One to express "his sorrow and his condolences. It was a very sad event. He was honored to meet (Harris) this morning and passed on his feeling that the whole family is in his thoughts and prayers."
Obama's trip to Ann's Place was his first stop in the second day of a bus tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania. He stayed overnight at the Hilton in Fairlawn, Ohio.
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