H 5418

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 5418
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A house RESOLUTION
TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF DR. JAMES EDWARD
"JIM" HARVEY OF ORANGEBURG AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND
MANY FRIENDS.
Whereas, the members of
the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened to learn of
the passing of Dr. James Edward "Jim" Harvey of Orangeburg on February 15,
2026, at the venerable age of nearly eighty-one; and
Whereas, born in
Lewiston, Maine, Jim Harvey came into this world on February 20, 1945, the son
of Dr. John Edward and Alice Wilson Harvey. 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, where he sold newspapers, rescued pets, and
had the run of the campus with his friends. In preparation for his career, the
young Jim earned his bachelor's degree from Wilmington College, Ohio; his M.Ed.
and his Ed.S. from Kent State University, Ohio; and his Ph.D. from Cleveland
State University, Ohio; and
Whereas, over the
years, he worked in a variety of positions from Peace Corps volunteer to high
school biology and chemistry teacher to director of a leprosarium project. Other
posts included serving as manager of psychological services for the Cleveland
Ohio Metropolitan School District, for which he supervised eighty school
psychologists, six interns, and five social workers. Dr. Harvey also had a
private practice and was a part-time instructor at Cuyahoga Community College,
Cleveland, Ohio; and
Whereas, for his
dedicated labors in many professional and community service organizations, Jim
received numerous awards, including the Ohio Council for Exceptional Children
President's Award for Leadership and Wilmington College Alumni Citation for
Distinguished Service to Education; and
Whereas, when Dr.
Harvey moved to Orangeburg 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, and he became a member of the Orangeburg Area Mental
Health Center Board of Directors, as well as 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). As a
result of his work with SCASP he received an Outstanding Advocate Award from the
National Association of School Psychologists; and
Whereas, additionally,
Jim played a crucial role as a member of the Joint Legislative Task Force on
School Safety, working with State Representative Jerry Govan. In 2015, the Task
Force made sixty recommendations, many of which are now in effect, including
full staffing of school resource offices, mental health counselors, and school
safety teams; and
Whereas, a life member
of the NAACP, Jim was also an active member of First Presbyterian Church of
Orangeburg. He served his church as an elder and worked with committee members
to carry out clothing drives for Rivelon Elementary School students through the
Charleston Atlantic Presbytery's Hands of Christ Program. He coordinated a
tutoring program for Rivelon, as well. Yet he still had time to play tennis, a
game he loved, and his teams won tournaments all over the State. He also played
regularly for fun and exercise; and
Whereas, Dr. Harvey
leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife of thirty-nine years, Ruth Owens
Butts Harvey; two sons, Justin Edward Harvey (Theresa) of Cleveland, Ohio, and
David Christopher Butts of Lexington, Kentucky; two grandchildren, James Harvey
and Alexandria Harvey of Cleveland, Ohio; and a host of other family members,
colleagues, and friends. He will be greatly missed. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the
South Carolina House of Representatives,
by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Dr. James
Edward "Jim" Harvey of Orangeburg and extend the deepest sympathy to his family
and many friends.
Be it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family.
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This web page was last updated on March 25, 2026 at 11:46 AM