The Graveside Service for Reverend Dr. Willie G. Harvey of Fort Valley, Georgia will be held Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery, 8620 GA Hwy 26E, Montezuma, Georgia with Pastor Allen Waters officiating.
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Reverend Dr. Willie Gene Harvey, Sr., the thirteenth child of sixteen children, was born in Montezuma, Georgia to the late Jerry Harvey, Sr. and the late Mamie Tookes-Harvey on August 25, 1942. He departed this life Wednesday, September 30, 2020, at the Houston County Medical Center in Warner Robins, Georgia.
Rev. Harvey attended Flint River Farm School and D.F. Douglas High School. Always being a dependable son and loyal to his family, he had to drop out of high school to work on the family’s farm. Being ambitious and goal oriented, he moved to Rochester, New York and later received his high school diploma from Franklin High School in Rochester, New York. He wanted to serve his country, so he later joined the United States Army. He received an honorable discharge. After returning from the Army, he was employed at the Midtown Mall in the Maintenance Department and later joined the Rochester Telephone Company in which he retired after thirty plus years of service. While working and pastoring a congregation, he attended Bible College in Baltimore, Maryland and Colgate Divinity School in Rochester, New York. In February 2008, he received an honorary Doctor of Theology from St. Thomas Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida.
As fate would have it, on June 26, 1960, he married the love of his life, his childhood sweetheart, Pearlene Smith, affectionately called “Purl”. Pearl was a lovely young lady who complimented him and later his ministry. Together with God’s divine guidance they blended their lives into a sacred tapestry of love. To this union five children were born; Yvonne, Edyth, Willie Jr., Rick and Glen. They served as foster parents and reared over seventy-five children from the cradle into young ladies and men and eventually became adoptive parents.
Hearing the voice of God, he accepted his call into the ministry in 1971. In January of 1981 Rev. Harvey was called to pastor Peace Missionary Baptist Church. The church was able to maintain and build new fellowships with other churches in the city as well as Detroit, Michigan and Cleveland, Ohio. The church relocated from Leopold Street in 1981 to Joseph Avenue and remained there until 1998 when it moved to its present location on Oregon St.
Rev. Harvey pursued lifelong learning by attending and participating in seminars, institutes, conferences and retreats. He believed that preparation was essential for serving others. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, he served as President of the Baptist Ministers Alliance for over twenty years. He was again re-elected in 2012 to serve as President. Also, he served as President of the United Church Ministry in Rochester, New York, the 2nd Vice Moderator to the Great Lakes Association, served on the Board of Directors for the Unified Mission of Rochester and the Board of Directors for the National Baptist Convention USA.
His community service began early in his life. He was passionate about trying to help make a difference for mankind, especially those who were oppressed and downtrodden. In the late 60’s he was an active member of the Rochester Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). While with SCLC, many positive changes took place in the Rochester community. He also served as President of the Rochester NAACP for several years. He helped develop an outreach program for those in recovery. Also, he was instrumental in sponsoring a breakfast program in collaboration with a community organization at the church and several other programs for the community.
Rev. Harvey retired from the Pastorate in June of 2012, with a banquet so large, many well-wishers were turned away. Soon thereafter he relocated to his home state of Georgia. A void was left in the Rochester community. He was reunited with his home church, New Hope Baptist Church and always had a hope that the two churches would one day have a fellowship with each other.
In the midst of illnesses and other stumbling blocks, Rev. Harvey by the grace of God continued his commitment to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In keeping with his saying when the spirit of the Lord was upon him in ministering the word, he could be heard saying, “It was one Wednesday evening when I received the Holy Ghost, and you shoulda been there!” It was on a Wednesday when the Lord called him off the battlefield from labor to reward.
He was predeceased by his wife, Pearlene Harvey; seven brothers and five sisters: Jerry Harvey, Jr., Claude Harvey, James Harvey, Allen Harvey, Joe Louis Harvey, Issac Harvey, Fredrick Harvey, Lillie Mae Harvey Hines, Maude Harvey Colson, Annie Lee Harvey Harden, Jimmie Lou Harvey Chandler, and Mamie Harvey McLarty.
He leaves to cherish his beautiful memories his loving children: Harriet (Robert) Tillard and Edyth (Jansen) Jones of Rochester, New York, Willie Harvey, Jr., and Jeffery White both of Fort Valley, Georgia, Rickey (Juanita) Harvey, Glen (Bernadette) Harvey, Evanna Harvey and Kevin Harvey all of Rochester, New York, Justin (Quanna) Harvey of Florence, South Carolina and Robert Harvey of New York City, New York; Godson, Michael Foster of Rochester, New York; Goddaughter, Mayor Lovely Warren of Rochester, New York; twenty-seven grandchildren; forty-six great grandchildren; two sisters, Rosie Mae Harvey Carter of Montezuma, Georgia and Barbara Harvey Jackson of Mableton, Georgia; one brother, Lucious (Virginia) Harvey of Atlanta, Georgia; six sisters-in-law, Lucile (Johnny) Cullen of Miami, Florida, Merlene Smith, Christine Hinton, Annette Smith, and Janie Mae Smith of Montezuma, Georgia and Hattie Mae Harvey of Rochester, New York; two brothers-in-law, Herman (Daisy) Smith of Byromville, Georgia and Franklin McLarty of Montezuma, Georgia; devoted nieces and nephews, the New Hope Baptist Church Family, the Peace Missionary Baptist Church Family and a host of other relatives and friends.
To view this service live or at a later date, click on the link below, or watch it on our Facebook page.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/CTFY4VcAPbQ
https://youtu.be/S6iJyp8aL6E