Nellie Harvey

Nellie Rodriguez Harvey, 89, of Ruston, passed away Saturday, April 10, 2021.

She was born June 24, 1931, to the late Jennie Marquez and Antonio Rodriguez in New York City. Nelli was an alumnus of New York University with a master’s degree in English. After graduation, she joined Columbia University International, where she traveled to Kabul Afghanistan.

There she met her husband of 59 years and the love of her life, John Wesley Harvey. John was stationed there as a member of the Army Attache. She and John traveled the world together before settling down in Monticello, Arkamsas, when they returned to the United States. She and John eventually moved to Ruston, where they currently lived.

Nellie continued teaching at various universities for 51 years. She retired from Grambling State University in 2015 at the young age of 84. She was a member of Cook Baptist Church. She had touched many lives and still had former students that came to her home to visit. If you ever met Nellie, you would never forget her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Jennie and Antonio; one brother, Tony Rodriguez; one daughter, Joy Annette Harvey; one grandson, Johnathan Watson; and one great-grandchild, Abigail Watson.

Nellie is survived by her husband, John; children, Jennie Harvey Clark (Ricky) and Johna Harvey Gilbert; sister, Wilda Rodriguez of Hutchinson Island, Florida; grandchildren, William Neil Watson and Zachary Cornelius Watson; great-grandchildren, Jacob Watson, Dylan Watson, and Caleb Anderson.

A service will be Thursday, April 15, 2021, at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Lone Sassafras Cemetery.