John Harvey Givens, III

John Harvey “Harv” Givens, III, 66 of Pearisburg, VA went to be with the Lord on Monday, March 11, 2024, at his home. Harv was born on June 13, 1957, in Petersburg, VA and was the son of Gertrude “Perk” Smith Perkins Givens and the late John Harvey Givens, Jr.  Beside his father, he was preceded in death by his infant baby brother, James Archer Givens; his paternal grandparents, John H. Givens, Sr. & Winnie J. Givens; his maternal grandparents, Archer W. Perkins and Alice Smith Perkins; uncles, Thomas Cale Givens, Ferrell “Snag” L. Williams, Sr., Chapman Isaac Johnston, Jr., Archer W. “Spooney Perkins, Jr., Charles Fletcher Perkins, Sr.; aunts, Mildred Givens Johnston, Anna Lee Williams, Jean Givens Owen, Helen Farrier Givens; and cousins, Chapman Issac Johnston, III, John Chapman Johnston, Thomas Cale Givens, Jr., Amy Perkins Duncan and Jeffrey Bruce Owen.

Harv was born in Petersburg, VA and moved to Pearisburg when he was 4.  Growing up, summers were spent at his grandparents’ farm in Dinwiddie.  Time on the farm was spent playing with his cousins, picking tobacco, corn, watermelons, cantaloupes and helping feed the cows and pigs. When he wasn’t “working”, he was hunting, fishing, and playing church softball.  Also, every Christmas was spent on the farm. In school sports he loved playing tennis, throwing the shotput, and playing football.  Upon graduating Giles High School in 1975, he moved to his maternal grandparent’s farm for 4 years, returning to Pearisburg where he lived for the rest of his life.  Harv retired from the Celanese Plant in Narrows after 31 years of service and was a former Captain of the Celanese Fire Brigade.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg, was a member of the Pearisburg Jaycees, and a longtime member of the Giles Masonic Lodge # 106 A.F. & A.M. in Pearisburg.  His passions were hunting in all forms, fishing, watching NASCAR, softball and golfing.  In his retirement, he could be found golfing at the Giles Country Club which he called his second home.  He was a member of the “Pembroke Posse,” the Woodcutters Cabin up Stoney Creek, and the Rowanta Hunt Club in Dinwiddie.  Most of all, he loved spending time with his family and all his hunting buddies. He never met a stranger, and his goal was to make you laugh and feel welcome.  His heart was as big as he was, and he will be missed by all. 

Besides his mother, he is survived by his brother, Robert Alan Givens (Dianna) of Pearisburg; nephew, James Michael DeHart (Stephanie) of Berthoud, CO.; great niece, Willow Lynn DeHart of Berthoud, CO.; uncle, Robert F. Perkins of Richmond; cousins, Deborah P. Westmoreland (Marvin), Charles F. “Peter” Perkins (Joy), Cheryl Lynn Perkins (Pam Stolz), Bobby Gray Perkins (Jenny), Michael Perkins all of Dinwiddie, Ferrell L. Williams, Jr (Karen) of La Grange, GA, Louise G. Barrow (Malvern) of Richmond, Keith Owen (Monica) of Cleveland, OH, Steven G. Owen (Becky) of Virginia Beach; and many, many other cousins and friends. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 2pm at the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg with the Rev. Clay Holt, the Rev. Keith Owen and Charles Henderson officiating with burial following in the Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg.  The family will receive friends at the church 2 hours before the service, from 12 – 2 pm.  Masonic graveside services will be conducted by RW Timmy Spicer for Giles Lodge # 106 A.F. & A.M and the 41^st Masonic District.  Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg or to the Giles Lodge #106 Honor Board in Harv’s name.  Online condolences can be sent to the family at givensfuneralhome.com.