1931
Harry
2017
Harry Groff Lefever
December 7, 1931 — February 3, 2017
Dr. Harry Groff Lefever, 85, long-time resident of Atlanta's Candler Park neighborhood, died Feb. 3, 2017, at home in Athens, GA. Dr. Lefever enjoyed a long life studying, teaching, and writing about civil rights and sociology at Spelman College in Atlanta.
He was born Dec. 7, 1931, in Lancaster, PA, and studied at Lancaster Mennonite High School before going on to earn a B.A. from Eastern Mennonite College (now University) in Harrisonburg, VA, an M.A. from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. from Emory University in Atlanta. He taught at Eastern Mennonite College from 1963 until 1966. He served as professor of sociology at Spelman College from 1966 to 2003, when he was awarded the rank of Professor Emeritus. Due to his love for teaching and the academic environment, he continued to teach at Spelman part time until 2009.
He married Esther Peachey on June 10, 1954. In 1956 they traveled to Vietnam with a team from the Mennonite Central Committee. There they worked with a medical team and organized work camps and seminars with Saigon University students until 1959. Dr. Lefever continued to travel throughout his life, visiting India in 1981 to study the history of India and the development and influences of religion. He lived in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, for nine months gathering information and recording oral histories for his first book, "Turtle Bogue". Other travels took him to Japan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Burma, India, the Middle East, and Europe. He also traveled to Nicaragua, the islands of San Andres and Providencia in the western Caribbean. His interest in the Civil Rights Movement and its impact on the city of Atlanta led to two more books, "Undaunted by the Fight" and "Sacred Places".
He was a dedicated professional who cared about investing in his community and making the world a better place. Committed to living simply and conscientiously, he was involved in many social issues, including serving as a leader in the Candler Park Neighborhood effort to prevent a freeway from dividing the community. His concerns extended beyond his own community, and he contributed to a variety of charitable funds to help the less fortunate in other parts of the world. He was a caring father and grandfather, and he will be missed.
He is survived by brother Paul G. Lefever, sister Ana Hershey, sister Alma Weaver, and his children, Kristina, Carla, Erika and Dimitri Lefever, as well as his three grandchildren.
Dr. Lefever was a long-time member of Atlanta Friends Meeting. A memorial service will take place at the Atlanta Friends Meeting on March 11 at 4pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Atlanta Friends Meeting, 701 W. Howard Ave. Decatur, GA 30030. For more information visit atlanta.quaker.org.
Lord and Stephens, East is in charge of arrangements.
www.lordandstephens.com
He was born Dec. 7, 1931, in Lancaster, PA, and studied at Lancaster Mennonite High School before going on to earn a B.A. from Eastern Mennonite College (now University) in Harrisonburg, VA, an M.A. from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. from Emory University in Atlanta. He taught at Eastern Mennonite College from 1963 until 1966. He served as professor of sociology at Spelman College from 1966 to 2003, when he was awarded the rank of Professor Emeritus. Due to his love for teaching and the academic environment, he continued to teach at Spelman part time until 2009.
He married Esther Peachey on June 10, 1954. In 1956 they traveled to Vietnam with a team from the Mennonite Central Committee. There they worked with a medical team and organized work camps and seminars with Saigon University students until 1959. Dr. Lefever continued to travel throughout his life, visiting India in 1981 to study the history of India and the development and influences of religion. He lived in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, for nine months gathering information and recording oral histories for his first book, "Turtle Bogue". Other travels took him to Japan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Burma, India, the Middle East, and Europe. He also traveled to Nicaragua, the islands of San Andres and Providencia in the western Caribbean. His interest in the Civil Rights Movement and its impact on the city of Atlanta led to two more books, "Undaunted by the Fight" and "Sacred Places".
He was a dedicated professional who cared about investing in his community and making the world a better place. Committed to living simply and conscientiously, he was involved in many social issues, including serving as a leader in the Candler Park Neighborhood effort to prevent a freeway from dividing the community. His concerns extended beyond his own community, and he contributed to a variety of charitable funds to help the less fortunate in other parts of the world. He was a caring father and grandfather, and he will be missed.
He is survived by brother Paul G. Lefever, sister Ana Hershey, sister Alma Weaver, and his children, Kristina, Carla, Erika and Dimitri Lefever, as well as his three grandchildren.
Dr. Lefever was a long-time member of Atlanta Friends Meeting. A memorial service will take place at the Atlanta Friends Meeting on March 11 at 4pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Atlanta Friends Meeting, 701 W. Howard Ave. Decatur, GA 30030. For more information visit atlanta.quaker.org.
Lord and Stephens, East is in charge of arrangements.
www.lordandstephens.com
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