Juanita Yvonne Harvin

Juanita Yvonne Harvin was born at Freedman's Hospital on August 31, 1945, to the late Evelyn Inez Elmore Harvin and Hosea Theodore Harvin. Her parents, Inez and Theo, migrated from the Sumter/Wedgefield area in South Carolina to Washington, DC in the early 1940s. The couple's last three children (Yvonne, Gus, and Chubby) were born in Washington, DC. Yvonne and her siblings grew up the Shaw area of Washington, DC, and she attended Grimke Elementary, Thomson Elementary (when it became integrated), Shaw Jr. High School, and Cardozo High School. She was a bright student who impressed her teachers and peers alike by spelling big words like "antidisestablishmentarianism" and reading everything she could get her hands on. During her young adult years, Yvonne served as a community worker for the United Planning Organization's Neighborhood Development Youth Program in Washington, DC from 1966 - 1970 and 1970 - 1973 (with brief hiatus in 1970). She also served as a summer intern with the Brookings Institute in Washington, DC, where she worked on policy and political initiatives as they related to the Washington, DC community. Yvonne left the workforce a few years after having her fourth child to continue to focus on raising her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. And, her door was always open to anyone, family members and friends who became family. We jokingly used to call her house the House of Ruth and My Sister's Place.

Yvonne leaves to cherish her memory: her loving sister Miriam Harvin-Evans (Chubby); her favorite cousin Patricia Mathews (Pat); her best friend since childhood Sylvia Lee; her dear friend and prayer partner Alberta Humes; her son William A. Harvin (Rennie); and her daughters Asanti D. Williams, Yolanda K. Harvin, and Johanna O. Washington. Her oldest daughter Shelley R. Harvin preceded her in death by one week and her oldest son Kenneth Maurice Harvin (Sandy) passed in 1980.

Yvonne also leaves to cherish her memory 19 grandchildren (Demetri and Kennethia preceded her in death), 20 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins, her church family, and many dear friends who we now call family.

On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, Yvonne passed peacefully at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. She will be dearly missed by ALL who knew and loved her.