John Harvey Givens, Jr

In Loving Memory of

John Harvey Givens, Jr.

John Harvey Givens, Jr., 82 of Pearisburg, VA went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at Carilion Giles Community Hospital in Pearisburg. John Harvey was born on September 10, 1934 in Pearisburg, VA and was a son of the late John Harvey Givens, Sr. and Winnie Johnston Givens. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, James Archer Givens, one brother, Thomas Cale Givens, Sr., (Betsy Knight) , four sisters, Mildred G. Johnston, (Chapman I, Jr.), Anna Lee G. Williams, (Ferrell L.), Jean G. Owen, (Gordon K.), Helen Farrier Givens, three nephews, Chapman Issac Johnston, III, Thomas Cale Givens, Jr., Jeffrey Bruce Owen and one niece, Amy Perkins Duncan. John Harvey was a 1954 graduate of the Pearisburg High School (Red Devils), a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Embalming Class of 1955, and served his apprenticeship at J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home in Petersburg, VA receiving his Funeral Directors License in 1957. He returned to Pearisburg in 1959 to join his brother Cale T. Givens in carrying on the family business, Givens Funeral Home, est. 1912 by their father. He loved and served his community well. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg. He was involved in numerous civic organizations including the Pearisburg Jaycees, the Pearisburg Lions Club and the Giles High School Boosters Club. He was a member of the National Bank of Blacksburg Board, Carilion Giles Community Hospital Board for over 20 years, and served as a member, and then President, of the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. He was a Golden Licensee Funeral Director with sixty years of service and served his beloved town of Pearisburg as Mayor from 1994 to 2002. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Gertrude Perkins (Perk) Givens, two sons, John Harvey Givens, III, Robert Alan Givens (Dianna), all of Pearisburg, one grandson, James Michael DeHart and numerous, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. A celebration of his life will be conducted Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 1:00pm at the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg with the Rev. Dr. Brian Burch, the Rev. Dr. Fred L. Austin, the Rev. Keith Owen and Charles Henderson officiating with burial following in the Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends Friday evening at the First United Methodist Church from 5 – 8 pm. Flowers are appreciated. Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg or the Giles County Volunteer Rescue Squad. Online condolences can be sent to the family at givensfuneralhome.com.