Rev. Dr. Harvey Lee Duke

Rev. Dr. Harvey Lee Duke passed away May 11, 2011 at the age of 79 in Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC. He will be remembered as a devoted soldier, pastor, husband and father who left an extraordinary legacy behind in all four areas.

Dr. Duke was born to John Elmer Duke and Mary Lucille Regan in Orlando, FL. He grew up in Jacksonville, FL and graduated from Jacksonville’s Robert E. Lee High School. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stetson University as well as a Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Theology, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was also a Teaching Fellow at Southeastern Seminary.

Dr. Duke served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict until he was honorably discharged. While serving in the military, he felt called into full-time ministry and served as a Navy Reserve Chaplain until he retired at the rank of Captain. He was ordained into the ministry by Woodlawn Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL.

In 1951, while on active duty, Harvey Duke married June Claire Stewart of Jacksonville, FL. This August would have marked their sixtieth anniversary. Dr. Duke is survived by his wife, as well as two sons, David and Mark, and their wives, Paula, and Becky, of Cary, NC and Peachtree City, GA, respectively. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren, Meredith (husband, Josh), Christopher (wife, Lisa), Jessica, Andrew, William, Abigail, and Maddie. He also leaves behind three great grandchildren Gracie and Emma Bragg and Payton Duke. Dr. Duke is also survived by one sister, Betty Gordon, of Jacksonville, FL.

Dr. Duke served the following churches over his sixty years of ministry: Palm Bay Baptist Church of Palm Bay, FL; Union Baptist Church, of O'Brien, FL; Central Baptist Church, of Leesburg, FL; Shiloh Baptist Church, of Garner, NC; Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, of Willow Springs, NC; St. Johns Park Baptist Church, of Jacksonville, FL; and First Baptist Church of Cary, NC.

Dr. Duke served at First Baptist Church of Cary, NC from 1969-1996. As the church grew, he developed family life ministries, senior adult ministries and youth programs because he saw a need and had a heart for everyone to get the care they needed. His memorable “Pastor's Pals” program for children aged 8-12 touched and influenced many children of Cary over the years. He also supported the start of the Korean Church that met at First Baptist and later moved to Raleigh. After he retired from First Baptist he was endowed with the church's first ever title of "Pastor Emeritus."

Dr. Duke was extremely well-known and active in the Cary community. He was a member and former president of the Cary Central Rotary Club, and a Paul Harris Fellow.

Reverend Doctor Harvey Lee Duke will be deeply missed by the citizens of Cary, the church community, and his devoted family. Maddie Duke (age 11) says, “Papa was very funny, loved everybody, and he loved to play checkers with us too.”

The funeral will be held Sunday, May 15, 2011 at the First Baptist Church of Cary, NC at 3 pm. Immediately following the service a receiving and reception will be held in the fellowship hall.

The graveside service will be held Monday, May 16, 2011 at Raleigh Memorial Park at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 1512, Cary, NC 27512, or www.gideons.org.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Cary.