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It was defined by her faith in God, he told an overflow crowd at First Presbyterian Church in Beaufort, which gathered to pay final respects to a Beaufort grande dame."There is a deep grief in having to say goodbye to one we dearly loved," Harvey said. "She knew that death was not the end, but the beginning of eternal life."
Helen Harvey, 77, died Wednesday after battling a lengthy illness, relatives said. She was buried in the extension cemetery of the Parish Church of St. Helena. A reception and visitation followed at the family's home.Guests came from near and far. Many local and state politicians, including Gov. Mark Sanford, paid their respects to the wife of former state legislator and lieutenant governor W. Brantley Harvey Jr.
With the church full nearly 30 minutes before the funeral, hundreds more gathered in a fellowship hall across the street to watch the service on a projector screen.
Harvey moved to Beaufort with her husband in 1955 and began a career in education.
She assisted her husband throughout his political career, raised five children, championed historic preservation efforts in Beaufort, served on the University of South Carolina's board of trustees and helped start Lowcountry Real Estate.
She was a longtime active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Beaufort.
She fell ill with a rare neurological disease about 10 years ago, relatives have said. But even after losing her vision and suffering other side effects, she remained positive and active -- a wonderful wife, mother and friend to many, the Rev. Harvey said during the service.
"She was truly a remarkable woman who truly lived life well," he said. "Never once during Mom's illness did I hear her complain about or question what she was going through. ... She knew God had a plan."
