The Honorable James Harvey Harvell III, 82, died Sunday morning at his home, in the company of his loving family.
A lifelong resident of Newport News, he was born to James Harvey Harvell, Jr, and Alice Long Harvell on January 21, 1935. Judge Harvell graduated from Warwick High School in 1952; he then moved on to Washington & Lee University, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in history and was a proud member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Afterward, he transitioned to the University of Virginia School of Law, from which he graduated with an LLB degree in 1959.
In the same year, he married Barbara Anne Jacobs of Williamsburg, VA. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving his country in the Reserves for six years, six months of which he was on active duty.
During this time, he began practice as an attorney, a career which culminated in a partnership with his mentor, William McL Ferguson.
In 1972, he received the honor of being appointed as a judge to the Newport News General District Court, a position that he would hold for 32 years before retiring in 2004 - he continued to actively serve on the bench as a recall judge for the next 11 years.
On the bench, as in every walk of life, Judge Harvell was known as a kind and honorable man. His career was distinguished by a focus on methods to aid the community through prevention and rehabilitation. Along with Judge Henry Kashouty and Dick Tyson, he pioneered the Peninsula Alcohol Safety Action Program (ASAP) and served on the board of directors for the Serenity House, both of which sought to treat and rehabilitate men and women who struggled with alcohol abuse.
He served on the board of the Tidewater Automobile Association from 1978 until 2016, serving as chairman from 1993 until 1995. One of his many roles was to choose the recipients of the annually awarded J. Timmons Memorial Scholarship. Judge Harvell had a lifelong passion for education and educational excellence, serving as a board member and eventual president (2009-2011) of the Lifelong Learning Society of Christopher Newport University.
A devout Christian, he faithfully attended Saint Stephens Episcopal Church, always arriving a bit early so that he could settle in his favorite pew. As an active member of the church community, he served on the vestry and taught Sunday School.
He was fiercely proud of his country, of its founders, and of its people. As a judge, he never sought a higher appointment to circuit court, as he preferred to work with everyday Americans - men and women who found themselves in his courtroom by way of honest mistakes, and whose lives he could help improve.
Sports held a special place in Judge Harvell's heart. A lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox, one of his happiest days came in 2004, when the Red Sox broke the "Curse of the Bambino" with their first World Series win in 86 years. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Washington Red Skins and, as a proud Wahoo, also of the University of Virginia in every sport.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Jacobs Harvell; his daughter, Laura Harvell May; and his four grandchildren, Christian, Frank, Ann Marie, and Emily May, all of Newport News, VA; and his brother-in-law, Selby C. Jacobs of Basye, Virginia.
Visitation will be held on Friday, October 13th, from 7:00-8:30 pm at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church. A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 pm Saturday, October 14th, also at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church, by the Rev. J. Scott Baker.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either: UVA Fund (with "Warwick High School Class of 1952 Scholarship Fund" in the memo), c/o UVA Alumni Hall, P.O. Box 400314 Charlottesville, VA 22904 Attn: Molly Bass or the Henry Jordan Memorial Scholarship Foundation, c/o Warwick High School, 51 Copeland Lane, Newport News, VA 23601