Harvey, Maureen Patricia (1924–1967)

By Godfrey K. Sang

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Godfrey K. Sang is a historical researcher and writer with an interest in Adventist history. He holds a B.A. in History from the University of Eastern Africa Baraton and a number of qualifications from other universities. He is a published author. He is the co-author of the book On the Wings of a Sparrow: How the Seventh-day Adventist Church Came to Western Kenya

First Published: January 8, 2024

Maureen Patricia Harvey was a medical missionary in Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, and South Africa.

Early Life

Harvey was born on May 17, 1924, was the eldest daughter among six children of Elder and Mrs. T. A. Kilroe-Smith.1 Her family embraced the Adventist faith in 1927, three years after Maureen’s birth. Early in life, she joined the Church and was baptized. In 1946, Maureen married Dr. Russel Jack Harvey. Together they had three children--Bruce, Jennifer, and Cheryl. In 1952, the Harvey family made a heartfelt commitment to join mission service. Their journey took them to various mission hospitals and other locations.

Missionary Service

Their first service location was in the Nokuphila Hospital in Johannesburg. Their mission service then took them to Kendu Mission Hospital and Ankole Hospital (now Ishaka Hospital) in East Africa.

Throughout her time at these mission hospitals, Maureen stood and worked faithfully alongside her husband, who was also a qualified pilot and operated a flying medical service. In 1956, her husband, Dr. R. Jack Harvey, was appointed hospital director at Malamulo, a position he held until 1972.2 Dr. Harvey was popularly known as the “flying doctor” for being in charge of two Cessna planes that helped him reach patients in far-flung areas, not just in Malawi, but also in the Congo.3

Her final place of service was at Malamulo Hospital in Malawi.

Illness and Death

In August 1967, Maureen underwent major surgery in South Africa following an illness. The diagnosis was dire, and the surgery urgent.4 On Sunday, August 13, she peacefully passed away in her sleep at 6:06 a.m.5 She was 43. The previous day, her colleagues at Malamulo had held a prayer and fasted for her life. Maureen was survived by her husband, Dr. R. Jack Harvey, and their three children--Bruce, Jennifer, and Cheryl.

Sources

Campbell, F. “At Rest.” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, October 15, 1967.

Lindup, Rodney. “Camp-Meetings With the Flying Doctor.” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, June 15, 1965.

Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia. Second revised edition. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 1996. S.v., “Malamulo Hospital.”

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.

Notes

  1. F. Campbell, “At Rest,” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, October 15, 1967, 6.

  2. “Malamulo Hospital,” Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia (1996).

  3. Rodney Lindup, “Camp-Meetings With the Flying Doctor,” Trans-Africa Division Outlook, June 15, 1965, 8.

  4. Campbell, 6.

  5. Ibid.

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Sang, Godfrey K. "Harvey, Maureen Patricia (1924–1967)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 08, 2024. Accessed November 13, 2024. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BJN2.

Sang, Godfrey K. "Harvey, Maureen Patricia (1924–1967)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 08, 2024. Date of access November 13, 2024, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BJN2.

Sang, Godfrey K. (2024, January 08). Harvey, Maureen Patricia (1924–1967). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved November 13, 2024, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BJN2.