Dr. James E. Harvey

Obituary For Dr. James E. Harvey

Dr. James Edward Harvey (Jim) was born in Lewiston, Maine on February 20, 1945 to Dr. John Edward and Alice Wilson Harvey. He died on February 15, 2026 at Prisma Health Richland Hospital, Columbia, SC.

In 1948 Jim moved with his parents and two sisters, Janet his twin, and Diane, to Gambier, Ohio where his father was to begin his career as a professor at Kenyon College.

Jim grew up in the idyllic little village of Gambier, Ohio where he sold newspapers, rescued pets and had the run of the campus with his friends. He attended elementary school in Gambier and began secondary school in Mount Vernon, Ohio. After a year in Mount Vernon he asked his father to send him away to school. He graduated from Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine in 1963. Jim’s degrees include a B.A. Degree from Wilmington College, Ohio; M.Ed. from Kent State University, Ohio; Ed.S. from Kent State University Ohio; and a Ph.D. from Cleveland State University, Ohio.

After Jim received his B.A. from Wilmington, he became a Peace Corp Volunteer. He served in the Republic of the Philippines as a high school biology and chemistry teacher. He was also the Director of the Leprosarium Project.

Dr. Harvey had licenses and certifications in three states including a Permanent Teaching Certificate in social studies in New York State. Jim was a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and served as a School Psychologist for the Cleveland Ohio Metropolitan School District until he became Manager of Psychological Services. As Manager he supervised eighty school psychologists, six intern school psychologists and five social workers. Jim had a private practice, was Interim Special Education Coordinator for Orange City School District, in Pepper Pike, Ohio, and a part-time instructor at Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland Ohio.

Jim was very active in professional and community service activities, he received:

President’s Award for Leadership, Ohio Council for Exceptional Children; Alumni Citation for Distinguished Service to Education presented by Wilmington College; Ray Horne Honorary Life Membership Award, Ohio School Psychologist Association; Amy Allen Educator of the Year Award, Ohio Council for Exceptional Children; Special Educator of the Year, The Ohio Council for Exceptional Children; Psychologist of the year, presented by The Cleveland Association of School Psychologist.

Dr. Harvey moved to Orangeburg, SC with his wife Ruth in 2010. His service to others continued: he volunteered at Whittaker Elementary School, he and his wife delivered Meals-on-Wheels, he became a member of the Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center Board of Directors, and a board member of The Orangeburg County Community of Character.

Ever the psychologist, Jim affiliated himself with the South Carolina Association of School Psychologists (SCASP) and became a member of the Legislative Committee, and the South Carolina School Boards Association Friends of Education Committee, SCASP Representative. As a result of Jim’s work with SCASP he received An Outstanding Advocate Award from The National Association of School Psychologist (NASP).

Additionally, Jim played a crucial role as member of the Joint Legislative Task Force on School Safety, working with State Representative Jerry Govan. In 2015 the Task Force made 60 recommendations including full staffing of School Resource Offices, Mental Health Counselors, School Safety Teams etc. Many of which are now in effect.

In 2015 Dr. Harvey became A Life Member of the NAACP.

Jim was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Orangeburg. He served as an Elder and worked with committee members to carry out clothing drives for Revelon Elementary School Children through the Charleston Atlantic Presbytery’s “Hands of Christ” Program. He coordinated a tutoring program for Revelon also. When Geb Runager helped create the Bootstraps Mentoring Program, Jim joined the Board and he and Ruth became Mentors.

In addition to all of that, he still had time to play tennis. He loved the game! His teams won tournaments all over the state. He also played regularly for fun and exercise.

Jim is survived by his devoted wife of 39 years, Ruth Owens Butts Harvey; two sons Justin Edward Harvey (Theresa) of Cleveland, Ohio, David Christopher Butts of Lexington, Kentucky; two grandchildren, James Harvey and Alexandria Harvey of Cleveland, Ohio; sister-in-law, Arminta P. Owens of Orangeburg; two brothers-in-law, Sammie G. Owens of Bamberg, SC, Gerald Clarke (Jennifer) of Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada; and a plethora of nieces, nephews, grand and great grand nieces and nephews, extended family, friends and colleagues.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Diane Clarke and Janet Graddick, mother-in-law Lillie Ruth Owens, brothers-in-law Willie Graddick and Willie B. Owens, sister-in-law Mattie Peterman.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: First Presbyterian Church, 650 Summers Avenue, Orangeburg, SC 29115 1stpresbyterian.org; Berwick Academy c/o Advancement Office, 31 Academy Street, South Berwick ME 03908 or online at: berwickacademy.org/giving; Orangeburg County Community of Character, PO Box 593, Orangeburg, SC 29116 Cashapp: $OburgCharacter1.

A Celebration of Life will be held at First Presbyterian Church Orangeburg on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 11 AM

Family and friends may call Simmons Funeral Home and Crematory of Orangeburg.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.simmonsfuneralhome.com

Send flowers to the service of Dr. James E. Harvey