Henrietta Ferguson Harvey, 99, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday, January 17, 2022, at her home in St. Francisville. She was born in Mize, Mississippi on July 31, 1922, and spent her childhood in Laurel, Mississippi. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government Street, on Thursday, January 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and on Friday, January 21, from 10:00 a.m. until religious service at 11:00 a.m., conducted by Rev. Chris Andrews. Interment in Star Hill Cemetery, St. Francisville.
Henrietta met James Abram Harvey while working in Baton Rouge, they married in 1947, and moved to St. Francisville where they lived happily until his death in 2007. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry F. and Vada Ferguson; husband, James A. Harvey, brother, Jack Ferguson, sisters Aline Ferguson and Evelyn Wesley, and twin grandsons, Joshua and Joseph Wymore. She is survived by two sisters, Sara Ard and Marie Stephens, and her six children and their spouses: Jimmy Harvey (Ginger), Bobby Harvey (Anita), David Harvey (Joy), June Ford (Toby), Susan Wymore (Terry), and Mary Bateman (Dewitt). She was blessed with twenty-one grandchildren, and twenty-seven great-grandchildren. Granddaughters include: Becky Posey, Alison Gifford, Ashley Harvey, Kristi Murray, Melissa Gostisha, Kathleen Thornhill, Betsy Tilley, and Emily Bateman. Her grandsons will be her pallbearers and include: James Abram Harvey, II, Jason Harvey, David Harvey, Jr., John Christian Harvey, Peter Harvey, Bo Thornhill, Jacob Wymore, Bryan Wymore, Quinton Wymore, Ian Wymore, Zachary Bateman, Jonathan Bateman, and Benjamin Bateman.
“Ret” was hard-working. After raising her large family, she began a second career in the personnel office at East Louisiana State Hospital in Jackson where she worked for many years. She developed a love of singing in church choir as a child in Laurel and was a member of St. Francisville Presbyterian Church. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a quick wit. She had funny nicknames for those she loved, sang silly songs to make us laugh, remembered every birthday with a card or phone call, kept in touch with friends and family, and sent Christmas cards faithfully. She loved the beach, and wanted her entire family there to enjoy it with her. She was a great cook and is famous among friends and family for her delicious desserts—especially her chocolate pie. One of her favorite places was her back porch where she spent many happy hours swinging, singing, and visiting with whomever stopped by. She made sure everyone felt special, because she genuinely cared about each person individually. Henrietta was a beautiful person and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
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