George Samuel Harvey

George Samuel Harvey, 81 of Sanford peacefully passed away Friday October 24, 2025 after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s. A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 15th at 11:00 am at St Luke United Methodist Church. A celebration of life will be held following the service in the Davenport Christian Life Center.

George was born in North East, MD on March 3, 1944, son of the late George Aldridge Harvey and Eleanor King Harvey. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Elizabeth “Mary Lib” Conklin, and cousin Henry Earl Harvey.

As a senior at North East High School he was named Honorable Mention All American for basketball from the state of Maryland. He attended Campbell College (now Campbell University) where he played basketball his freshman year. George played and coached on the college’s first soccer team where he was team Captain, 2-time MVP, and was a member of the 1965 All-South Team. After graduating from Campbell University he began his career in the Durham City School System as a 9th grade Civics teacher where he also coached basketball. George earned his Masters of Education from Duke University and his Doctorate of Education from Walden University/Duke. While in the school system, George was called a “pioneer in education”. He left the classroom to become the head of the Audio/Visual Department for the schools. There he worked with the cable company to bring live broadcasting for the school board meetings and sporting events. He organized a TV class for high school students who would set up the cameras for video and audio for these events.

After George left the school system he went into the Insurance business. He was vice president of insurance for Medical Mutual, handling the insurance needs of the physicians and dentists in North Carolina. In 1997 he and Rebekah moved to Sanford and George worked as an Independent Insurance Broker as a Certified Financial Planner.

While in Durham, George and Rebekah were active members of Trinity United Methodist Church in downtown Durham. He also served as Chairman of the Durham County Board of Adjustments and past president of the Durham City Association of Educators. George was a member of St Luke United Methodist Church where he was a teacher in the Moffitt-Hoyle-Jones class and served in many other capacities. He was a charter member of the Leedership Sanford Steering Committee and the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce, the Boys and Girls Club serving as a Past President, and a member of the Sanford Lions Club serving as a Past President, Lion of the Year and he loved working the Lee Regional Fair.

George is survived by his wife of 59 years, Rebekah Smith Harvey; son, Grant Harvey (Hannah) and their children, Ruthie and Claire; daughter, Meg H. Alverson (Eric) and their children, Emma, Rachel and Molly; sister, Barbara Eleanor Harvey; cousins, Carolyn King, Bonnie DeLong, and Claudia Peters; nieces, Amy McCrary, Cara Richardson, Beth Adcock, Susan Lawrence, and Kim Stall; nephew Reed Lipsey; sister in law, Betty Smith Lawrence.

The family wishes to thank Gentiva Hospice, Comfort Care LLC, and Ruby Griffin; caregiver and friend, for their wonderful care.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Sanford Lions Club "Charitable Works”, PO Box 892 Sanford, NC 27331; Boys & Girls Club of Central Carolina, 1414 Bragg Street, Sanford, NC 27330, Attn: Mary Murphy; The Mary Tullock Fund in care of St Luke United Methodist Church, 2916 Wicker Street, Sanford, NC 27330.