April 03 1905 January 31 2020
Esther Ruth Harvey April 03, 1905 – January 31, 2020 Share this obituary Send Flowers Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card| Memorial Donation “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.” Psalm 28:7 The life of Esther Ruth Harvey was a beautiful example of a life of faith in God and love for family. In 1920, she was born to the late Curtis and Emma Jackson Harvey in Buena Vista, GA. She was the second of four siblings, the oldest being Curtis (Jack), and younger sister Grace and brother Eugene. When her brother Jack saw her as a newborn, he thought she was a “Doll” and called her that, and within the family, the nickname stuck. As a young girl, she was brought up with a love for God and a passion for education, due in part to her family’s heritage. Her grandparents, Andrew and Margaret Jackson, were among the founding members of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Buena Vista and as a young member, Esther Ruth was the church pianist and was active in Sunday School and the Baptist Training Union. Her early education was in the Buena Vista schools where she and her schoolmates “had to walk about two miles, but we always went and that’s what we loved to do.” Emulating her mother, a teacher, Esther went on to graduate from the Training School at Albany State College (now Albany State University). Subsequently, she received her Masters’ degree from New York University and a second certification in Special Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. Esther Ruth taught school in Buena Vista, Sandersville, GA, and the Training School at Albany State and ultimately, Thomasville, GA. In the early 1970s, she made history there as the first African American teacher to integrate schools at East Side Elementary. In 1982, she retired from Douglass Elementary in Thomasville, where she lived most of her life. Esther Ruth was a faithful steward of her God-given gifts and enjoyed all the blessings He gave her. She was a member of First Missionary Baptist Church in Thomasville, and faithfully served as the Sunday School pianist, taught the Adult class, sang in the choir and served as an usher. She was a member of her beloved Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the Retired Teachers’ Association, and a Life Member of the National Alumni Association of Albany State University where she was inducted into the University’s Hall of Fame. Upon retirement, she enthusiastically explored her newfound love of travel and visited Alaska, Mexico, several Caribbean Islands, London and Israel. When she departed this life in the early hours of January 31, she left here as she lived here: in prayer and praise. After singing “Hold Onto God’s Unchanging Hand,” she prayed, “Lord, just help me one more time,” and entered eternity. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Curtis and Eugene Harvey. Cherishing her memory are her sister Grace Harvey of LaGrange, GA: a special niece, Eugenia Harvey of New York, NY; beloved niece Susan English and nephew Ronald Harvey of Queens, New York; cousins: Margaret Ann (Richard) Smallwood of Silver Springs, MD; Ronnie (Sabrina) Harvey of Buena Vista, GA; Joe (Lanell) Harvey of Jonesboro, GA; Harry (Annie) Harvey of Summerville, GA; Janice Monford of Ellaville, GA; Gwen Seldon of Stone Mountain, GA; Rex (Kathy) Harvey of Cusseta, GA; Cynthia Barkley of Buena Vista, GA; Dr. Kenneth Harvey of Youngstown, OH; Terri Watkins, of Stockton, GA; John Bunkley of Jacksonville, FL, and other great-nieces and nephews, cousins, dear friends and the staff and personnel of Poplar Creek Assisted Living Facility. “With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:16 SERVICES Funeral Service Saturday, February 08, 2020 1:00 PM Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 110 S. McDuffy Street Buena Vista, GA Get Directions on Google Maps Print Obituary Sign Guestbook Name: Location: Video: Image: Light A Candle Candle 1 Candle 2 Candle 3 Candle 4 Email: Please keep my message private Personal Message: Personal Message (required) Confirm: Submit Guestbook entry
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Esther Ruth Harvey April 03 1905 January 31 2020.
Lakes-Dunson- Robertson Funeral
Death notice for the town of: LaGrange, state: Georgia