Hattie Louise Harshaw

Around the age of five years old, Hattie along with her parents and 8 siblings left Georgia and came to Columbus, Ohio for a better life. Hattie met and married her first and only love Gennie Harshaw on January 31, 1931. Hattie and Gennie were married for 66 years until his passing. They met while working in a glass factory. After leaving the glass factory, Hattie worked as a dedicated housekeeper for some well-known families in the Columbus area, the Woodwards and the Postlewaites until she retired. They loved Hattie dearly and treated her like family.
In her younger years, Hattie loved canning vegetables, gardening and fishing. Not a day would go by without seeing her in her large sun hat weeding out her flower beds or tending to the vegetables she and Gennie planted in their garden. Her yard was full of apple trees and a grapevine in the back yard. Hattie also taught her great-grandchildren how to work in the garden each weekend before the cold weather would set in. She would also take them to local farms to pick strawberries, green beans, greens, or picking out pumpkins for the Fall.
Hattie was always a spiritually, strong woman. She LOVED the Lord and was a dedicated, faithful steward! She was a dedicated member of East Columbus Church of Christ in Christian Union since before 1967, maybe from the inception of the church in 1943 – then named Idlewild Chapel. She attended every Sunday service and every church event (unless the weather was too cold). You would always hear her humming a hymn while cleaning or cooking. She was always patient teaching her great-granddaughters how to cook because they knew if it tasted like grandma's, it was done right! She has many desserts that she is famous for in her family such as ANY cobbler and bread pudding, especially during the holidays. Hattie made sure her great-grandchildren knew the Lord and said their prayers before every meal and at bedtime.
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She taught her grandchildren how to have faith and how to lean on the Lord during tough times. Her teachings were straight-forward. She was small in stature but when she spoke, she was a giant! She may have seemed tough with her teachings at times; however, her love was solid and unwavering. She was a rock to all who knew and loved her.
With each birthday in the past several years, Hattie would tell her family she was waiting on the Lord to call her home. We would remind her that apparently, she still had work to do. Her work is done and now she rests in the arms of our Lord and Savior. Hattie departed this life on November 12th while sitting in front of her favorite window peacefully at home with loving family by her side. On October 16th, 2024, Hattie was recognized as the oldest living person in Ohio at the age of 110 until her passing.
Hattie is proceeded in death by her parents and siblings; Husband, Gennie Harshaw; Son, Gene "Junie" Harshaw and Grandson (son), Gene Harshaw.
Hattie leaves behind to cherish her memory; Special Daughter-in-law Brenda Harshaw, Great-grandchildren Gene & (Gwen) Harshaw, Columbus, (Robert) & Earlene Smitherman, Cleveland, (Thomas) & Andrea Ochs, Columbus, Great-great grandchildren Robert Jefferson, Zayne Harshaw, Cierra Smitherman, Raven Smitherman and Rhayne Smitherman, Great-great-great grandchildren Keegan Jefferson, Tariq "TJ" Smitherman-Mason, Winter & Violet Reeves and a host of many grandchildren, nieces and nephews and special friend and caregiver Carolyn Soloman. Her memory will also be cherished by her pastor Cheryl Isaacs and entire East Columbus Community Church community. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Hattie Louise Harshaw (Brown), please visit our Tree Store.