Gustava Berthenia Harvey

It was a nice spring day in Tampa, Florida, when the now late Perry Sr. and Mabel Harvey welcomed their daughter, Gustava Berthenia Harvey into the world on March 15, 1937.  As the fifth child to this union, Gustava had great guidance on hard work from her parents, brothers and sisters.  As a child, she accepted Christ, and was baptized at First Baptist Church of West Tampa.

Gustava's early education was in the public schools of Hillsborough County, where she graduated from her beloved Middleton Senior High School.  Influenced by her brothers and sisters, Gustava traveled to Atlanta, Georgia where she attended Spelman College and later transferred and graduated from Bethune Cookman College, now University.  She continued to follow in her older siblings' footsteps by achieving a degree in Education.  Upon graduation, Gustava accepted a position with Desoto County schools, teaching elementary aged students.  She remained a teacher in Arcadia for 33 years.  After her retirement in 1993, Gustava moved back home to Tampa, Florida, to work alongside her siblings at College Hill Pharmacy, which was owned and operated by her family for over 50 years.  Throughout her life, Gustava enjoyed the Middleton Alumni Association and Bethune Cookman Alumni events, and you could always find her at her favorite slot machine at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.  After a full life and a short health battle, Gustave was called home to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father on the evening of February 8, 2024.

Cherishing her life and beautiful memories is her sole surviving sister, Dorothy Evelyn Keel; nieces and nephews, Sonja Harvey McCoy, Kermit Harvey, Gail Simmons, Maurice Harvey, J. Oscar Simmons III, Denise Keel Scott (Kacey) of Jacksonville, FL, Jerry N. Harvey Jr., Gustavo Keel (LaTrisha) of Daytona Beach, FL, Perry C. Harvey III, Sean N. Keel (Shamika); cousins, Florence Reeves of Seattle, WA and daughter Lydia; and a host of great nieces and nephews that include, Felicia Harvey, Marissa Harvey, Jennifer Harvey, Alaina Gibson (Sterling), Vincent McCoy, Kristopher Harvey, Kourtney Harvey, Lauren Ward (Charles), Gregory Fleming, Kacey Scott Jr., Kieron Scott, Kerrington Scott, Perry T.J. Keel and Naomi Keel; and other close and wonderful family members and friends.  She was predeceased by siblings Perry C. Harvey Jr., Ruth Harvey Brown, Lucille Harvey, Jerry N. Harvey Sr., and Altamese Simmons.

The family appreciates all kind gestures during this time of bereavement.

Please see below for service information.  Requesting that face masks be worn at all services.  Please direct any flowers, acknowledgements, or resolutions to Charlow Funeral Home.

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