Girvin Gilroy Harrison

Girvin “Harry” Harrison was born in Clarendon, Jamaica on October 10, 1931. He later moved to the Parish of Manchester, Jamaica with his parents Samuel Harrison and Avenel Ellington along with his siblings James (deceased) and Joyce. There he attended Belfield Secondary School and spent the rest of his adolescent years enjoying playing cricket. After secondary school, Harry was employed with the Jamaica Police Force until he migrated to the United Kingdom in January 1961 with the love of his life Myrtle Robinson. While in the United Kingdom he married the love of his life Myrtle Harrison on September 2, 1961. This union created their one and only son, Byron “Teddy” Harrison. In the United Kingdom, he worked as a mechanic and got the entrepreneur itch and owned his own delivery trucks. His skills as a mechanic came in handy when he and his son Teddy worked on his wife’s first car in the United Kingdom. Surely, a moment they both cherished for many years. In 1976, Harry and his family migrated to the United States. During his time in East Orange, New Jersey he worked on heavy duty equipment and vehicles. Harry and his wife were members of St. Paul AME Church where he was on the executive board, the treasurer and a member of the senior choir. Harry and Myrtle always ensured that their grandchildren, and a host of other family members attended church and Sunday School on a regular basis. As a child, if you were going to church you had to be a part of either the usher board, choir or both, preferably both. 441 Halstead Street was the hang out spot for a lot of family members and friends near and far. Family and friends would come from New York, South Jersey and Philadelphia to enjoy good food and good company. If the walls of 441 Halstead Street could talk it would talk about all the love and joy that surrounded the couple and all the support they received from family and friends. In February 1993, Harry and Myrtle retired and moved to Orlando, Florida. Because he was such a hard-working man, he started working for Walt Disney World as a bus driver to keep himself busy. During his time in Florida he joined New Life Worship Center and was a member for 22 years. During his time at New Life Worship Center, he adopted a host of other family members that he cared for as the Elder of the Church. Elder Harrison and his loving wife followed God’s order and joined Restore the Path for Christ Church where he continued to speak of the goodness of God under the leadership of Pastor Sterling Blake and First lady Dahlia Blake. His brother, James Harrison and sister-in-law, Barbara Harrison, precedes Harry in death. On his last day he quoted John 10:10 and sang How Great Thou Art. Harry is survived by: his loving wife of 58 years: Myrtle Harrison; son, Byron “Teddy” Harrison; forever daughter-in-law, Chana Duncan; three grandchildren, Debra Harrison, Ayanna Harrison, and Kiyah Harrison; two great-grandsons, Kiyantae Harrison, and Tizarie Gainey-Harrison; sister, Joyce Reed; brother-in-law, Harold Reed as well as a host of other relatives; Harry has gone home where he will enjoy a permanent and well-deserved rest with the One who loves him best. Harry, you will live on in our hearts forever.

Tributes

Girvin Gilroy Harrison

October 10, 1931 - April 23, 2019