John Farmer Harvard

TUSCALOOSA John Farmer Harvard, age 65, died October 12, 2009, at Hospice of West Alabama after a long battle with cancer. John grew up in Dothan, Alabama and resided in Tuscaloosa throughout his adult life.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday October 14, 2009, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father Jerry Deasy officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen City Cemetery with Heritage Chapel Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be today from 5 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.

He was preceded in death by his brother David E. Harvard of Tuscaloosa, his parents Dave and Lucie Farmer Harvard; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lester A. Farmer and Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Harvard, all of Dothan, Alabama.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Parrish Harvard; daughters, Kim Harvard Gaddy of Cape Cod, MA, Susan Harvard Kurdziel (Pete) of Pompano Beach, Florida; stepsons, Ben Baker, Jr. (Kimberly) of Montgomery, Parrish Baker (Ashley) of Oxford, MS; grandchildren, Caitlyn Gaddy, Emilee and Audrey Kurdziel, Isabella, Benjamin, and Liam Baker; nephew, Brian Harvard of Tuscaloosa; aunt, Erin (L.A.) Farmer of Dothan; cousins, Ann Allen (Newell) of Tuscaloosa, and Jim Farmer (Patricia) of Dothan, Don Scott (Kathy) of Poolee, GA, Michael Scott of Jacksonville, FL; Mary K Drew (Tom) of Virginia Beach, VA, and numerous cousins of the Harvard Family of Thomasville, GA and Dothan, AL.

John graduated from Dothan High School and The University of Alabama completing a degree in Business Administration and Pre-Law. While at UA, John was a member of the Beta Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, maintaining a life long relationship with the chapter and his brothers. His career included over 30 years employed by Security Federal Bank serving as Managing Officer, President, and Treasurer of the Board of Directors. He had a strong commitment to the role of the small community bank serving as President, Vice President, and Board Member of the state community bankers' organization, Southern Community Bankers. He loved Tuscaloosa and was proud of the contributions he made through banking to increasing homeownership and expanding real estate development. Upon his retirement, he served as loan officer at CTX Mortgage and Economic Development Coordinator in Workforce Development at Shelton State Community College. He was a member of the Tuscaloosa Homebuilders Association and Tuscaloosa Board of Realtors. He was active in Holy Spirit Catholic Church for many years.

His interest included his family, golf, and The University of Alabama Football. He was a charter member of Woodland Forrest Country Club serving on the Board of Directors. Tailgating, Crimson Tide Football, and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity were important to John throughout his life. He was a member of the Tuscaloosa Chapter of UA Alumnae.

Pallbearers are Newell Allen, Jim Deas, Roy Gregg, Dan Patton, Poogie Poole Rut Rutledge, Donnie Smith, Charles Thigpen and Hugh Underwood, III.

Honorary Pallbearers will be:

Kimberly Barton, Gerald Bryant, Lynn Corder, Rich Crow, Norman Dasinger, Tina De Loach, Don Dickert, Lou Drummond, Mike Ellis, John Ferguson, Carmen Giles, Rodney Granec, Richard Holland, Hospice of West Ala. Staff, Alums of Beta Chapter, Kappa Sigma, Mabel Lee, Chris Matheson, Rodney Parrish, Tony Poggie, Tommy Pow, George Pratt, Kenny Richardson, Jo Rutledge, Pam Saben, Bob Shaw, David Taylor, M. H. Thomas, Ginger Underwood, Paul Underwood, and Wayne Williams.

A special thank you to the staff of DCH Cancer Center and the M D Anderson Cancer Center, the nurses of AlaCare and Hospice of West Alabama, the staff of the Helen Hahn In-Patient Hospice Center, Daughters of the King of Christ Episcopal Church, members of Renaissance Study Club, Faculty and Staff of The University of West Alabama, and Friends of Shelton State Community College. The family requests donations to the Helen Hahn Hospice Center of Hospice of West Alabama and Easter Seals of West Alabama.