Harvey L. Robertson

Harvey Lee Robertson, Jr. was born on December 29th, 1930 at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta, GA. His mother, Mary Ruth Smith Robertson of Lakewood Heights in Atlanta, and his father, Harvey Lee Robertson Sr. of Grantville, GA, were married earlier in 1930 and were delighted to have a baby boy. Harvey Sr. worked for the Atlanta Post Office and Mary Ruth was a stay at home mom. Being born during the depression had its challenges but thankfully his father kept his job at the Post Office and later became the Postmaster of the Buckhead location. Harvey had a sister, Eleanor Annette, who was born in January, 1938 and she married Ralph Craig McDuffie on July 4, 1957.
Harvey Sr. and Mary Ruth moved their family to Kirkwood in 1940 providing a wonderful place for Harvey and Eleanor to grow up. Harvey attended Murphy Jr High, then went to Tech High his sophomore year. They turned Tech High into Murphy High School where he went his final 2 years of High School and graduated. He was popular in school and had lots of friends. He had a knack for making people feel welcome and included. He sang in the high school chorus and performed in musicals. He was a part of many singing groups over the years from quartets to the church choir and loved being a soloist. His favorite karaoke song was Perry Como’s, “Prisoner of Love”.
He had the opportunity to play all sports at Murphy High School but loved baseball the most. He spent a lot of time playing ball at Kirkwood Park with all of his buddies. Harvey was a really good pitcher and got an offer to come and try out for the Atlanta Crackers farm team in North Carolina. Harvey Sr. discouraged that idea telling him that he would never make any money playing baseball and that he should keep his job. That was Harvey Jr.’s biggest regret in life - to not at least have given it a try! He continued to play softball and coach softball at church and in the men’s senior league until he was 55.
Harvey served his country in the US Army in 1953 and 1954 (Post Korean War) with one of those years spent in Germany. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Occupational Medal (Germany) and a Good Conduct Medal. He returned in December of 1954 to marry the love of his life, Rachel June Pace on January 8, 1955. Harvey and Rachel had 2 daughters - Terri Alaine born in 1957 and Tracy Leigh born in 1963. Terri married Randy Daniel in 1978 and had 2 children, Kyle Graham (1986) and Kelli Ann (1989). Tracy married Branson Washington in 1988 and also had 2 children, Rachel Taylor (1989) and Branson Lee (1991).
Harvey grew up in the Methodist Church but after marrying Rachel, they became very involved in Kirkwood Baptist Church where they raised their family. Kirkwood became Rainbow Park Baptist Church in Decatur where he served as an ordained deacon and held many positions of leadership. They also attended First Redeemer Church in Cumming and First Baptist Church Powder Springs where his Memorial Service will be held on Sunday August 14th at 4:00 p.m. Visitation with the family is at 2:00. Part of his ashes will be buried at the GA National Cemetery in Canton, GA and some will be spread over the golf course at Trillium in Cashiers, N.C. Harvey and Rachel have owned a 2nd home in Trillium for the last 18 years. It was his favorite place and is where he taught his grandsons how to play golf.
Harvey took up golf in the mid-sixties and served as President of East Lake Country Club in the 70’s. He had the opportunity to play at many prestigious courses over the years but his favorite course was in Banff, Canada.
He began his career in printing thanks to a job from his grandfather, at Foote and Davies. He went on to work at General Lithographing, where he became the President of the company. Harvey was a partner in Crumbley, Robertson and Riley Advertising Agency. He started the first of his own businesses with Glenwood Advertising and went on to start a family business, T & T Advertising and Promotions in 1992, with his daughters and son-in-law, which is still going strong.
He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 76. He had hoped to work until he died – he absolutely loved working, but his disease prevented him from working after the age of 78. He and Rachel started volunteering at Blue Skies Ministries, serving families who have a child with cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family would like for donations to be made in his memory to Blue Skies. You can donate online at www.whereskiesareblue.org or mail to 1000 Whitlock Avenue Suite 320-234, Marietta, GA 30064.
He left a huge legacy of loving big and working hard. He left this earth on Wednesday August 3rd at Tranquility Hospice in Kennesaw, and now resides in Heaven with his Lord and Savior.

Harvey is survived by his wife, Rachel; his daughters and their husbands, Terri and Randy Daniel of Acworth and Tracy and Branson Washington of Powder Springs; his 4 grandchildren and their spouses, Kyle and Jamie Daniel of Douglasville, Taylor and Drew Worthington of Corpus Christi, TX, Kelliann and Tyler Ransom of Marietta and Lee and Kaitlynn Washington of Dallas, GA. Also survived by his sister and her husband, Eleanor and Ralph McDuffie, of Fayetteville, along with their children, Dan, Craig and David; his aunt Helen and her husband Wallace Payne of Savannah; many cousins, nieces and nephews.