Delilah Phillips Herrin was born on February 2, 1815 in Hopkins, Kentucky to David Herrin & Sarah Rebecca Herring. David & Sarah were both originally from South Carolina. About 1819 David & Sarah Herrin along with their five children, including Delilah who was now age 4, all moved to Southern Illinois. Delilah's grandfather, Dr. Isaac Herring along with Delilah's father, David Herrin were some of the first settlers to that area which would became known as Herrin's Prairie. Today it is known as Herrin, Illinois. Delilah's uncle, Jonathan Herring built and ran a mill in the Herrin's Prairie area and he conducted business with fellow miller, George Henry Harrison. George Henry Harrison, also an early pioneer in that area had built a mill and a mercantile business. It was through this connection that George Henry Harrison met miller Herring's niece, Delilah Phillips Herrin.

George Henry Harrison & Delilah Phillips Herrin were married on March 28, 1833. They had two children: David Ruffin Harrison born in 1834 and Louisa Martin Harrison born in 1835. After just fifteen years of marriage, Delilah's husband passed away on January 5, 1848. Delilah never remarried, but forged a life with her two children by her side in Herrin's Praire. A quote from one of the many obituaries written in her honor read:

"Grandma Harrison was a strong-willed great heartfelt woman of remarkable executive ability and industry such as were developed by the pioneer days in Illinois. Her hand was always open in charity to suffering neighbors and her home and hearth ever afforded shelter and comfort to the homeless wanderer."

She was a Charter member of Herrin's Prairie United Baptist Church, which later became Herrin First Baptist Church. Delilah Phillips Herrin Harrison passed away at the age of 84.