Dorothy Mae Harvin

Dorothy Mae Harvin, affectionately known as “Mutt”, entered this world on October 18th, 1933 to the late Emma Williams and Robert Johnson in Sumter County, South Carolina. Losing her father when she was only a couple months old, Dorothy was raised by her paternal grandparents, Ashby and Lorena Johnson and received all her formal education in the Clarenton County school system, but her mother, nine brothers, Robert, Clint, ‘Paw’, Ernest ,John,James, Frank,Clint, Joe Louis, and Raymond, and one sister, Maggie Mae were still close by and very much a part of her life. In 1951 at the age of 18 she married her love, the late Leroy Harvin, Sr.; soon after they began to start their family and gave birth to four children in South Carolina with their first-born Robert passing away shortly after birth. In 1958, Dorothy and Leroy moved their family to New York City where they had five more children becoming a family of ten. Dorothy had various jobs during her early days in New York but ultimately devoted the rest of her life to raising her kids, grandkids, and a host of other extended family and close friends. Dorothy loved family and having a sense of community with all who knew her. Her cooking was very much enjoyed by all as well as her love of gathering to play cards on the weekends. Dorothy enjoyed her lottery or ‘numbers’ as she often called it and any time when Wheel of Fortune came on, we knew we had to quiet down for the Lotto announcement. After Dorothy raised the family, she began to travel along with her family to places far beyond her many trips back home down south; she went to Canada, Las Vegas, Cancun Mexico, New Orleans, Virginia, Florida, Poconos, Puerto Rico, and seven cruises. In her later days, dementia took over slowly, but she was still very much aware of those she loved. She became very strong, and all her physical ailments went away as she was always on the go walking up and down the steps and around the home. But when she was seated, you could always find her in the chair in her bedroom right by the door waiting to see which family member comes through for a visit. On Tuesday, January 3, 2023 just after the New Year, Dorothy closed her eyes to be with the Lord and her late husband and son, Ervin Harvin. She leaves behind to cherish her memories her sons, Leroy (Beverly) Harvin Jr. of Reistertown, Maryland, Kevin (Stephanie) Harvin and Darryl Harvin both of Brooklyn, New York, her daughters Ruhdine Harvin of Brooklyn, NY, Shirley Harvin of Brooklyn, New York, Joyce Harvin of Florence, South Carolina, and Patricia Harvin of Brooklyn, New York grandsons, Roland (Sandra) Harvin, Jermel Harvin, Michael Harvin, Kevin Smart, Kami Harvin, Kristian Harvin, and Ka’lee Harvin, granddaughters, Shaquanna Herrion, Tasheema (Avery) Simpson, Kimberlee Hart, Sheila Smart, Taramia (Richard) Holder, Tanisha Smart, Tomeisha McCord, and Jazmine Gibbs, her honorary son Trevor Brathwaite, twenty-one great grand kids, two great-great grand kids, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends.

Dorothy Mae Harvin

October 18, 1933 - January 3, 2023