ForeverMissed
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His Life

Obituary

March 15, 2014

Harvey Tyler was born February 26, 1928 in Los Angeles, California to Nelson and Betty Tyler.  He was one of 10 children. He attended public schools in Los Angeles and graduated from Manual Arts High School on Vermont Ave. Harvey also sought and earned several academic degrees including a Doctor of Divinity from the International Deliverance Church’s School of Practical Theology and a Doctor of Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude from the Universite De Mont Saint Michel.

Harvey accepted Christ at a very early age under the pastoral leadership of the late Bishop W. J. Taylor at Grace Memorial Church of God in Christ on 46th and Compton Avenue in Los Angeles. God called Harvey to preach when he was 19 years old. Harvey answered the call and began preaching as if it were “fire shut up in his bones!” Harvey became a licensed minister in December, 1948; He was ordained in June, 1953 and he served as youth pastor of Grace Memorial COGIC during the 1950s.

That wasn’t the only fire Harvey had. In 1950, he met and married the lovely Clara Herron. In the fall of 1950, Harvey was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. There he emerged as a strong and young black preacher on a mission to serve his family, country and his Lord. When Harvey returned from active duty, to this union were born 3 beautiful children, Timothy, Dinah and Tamela.

In addition to being a father of 3, he was a full-time evangelist conducting revivals in the Los Angeles area and throughout the United States. He spent years helping other pastors establish and build churches. He was appointed State Jurisdictional Chaplain of COGIC in March, 1977; He was appointed pastor of the Liberty COGIC on May 22, 1978 and in 1994 he was appointed Jurisdictional Bishop of India by the late Bishop L. H. Ford, former Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ. Bishop Harvey Tyler faithfully served the Liberty COGIC for 26 years until he retired in 2004.

Harvey’s father, mother and all of his siblings preceded him in death.

Harvey leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 63 years, 4 months and 21 days, Clara Tyler; children: Timothy Tyler and friend Renae Watkins of Los Angeles, California, Dinah Tyler of Artesia, California and Tamela Tyler of Downey, California; Grandchildren: Shukura Tyler, Adriane McCray Johnson, Jada Johnson, Sharon Clark-Cornelius, Isaiah Cornelius; God-children: Sheila Claibourne, Bob Alexander, Dr. Marvin Mizell; His oldest niece, Beverly Lasley; a host of nieces and nephews; Sister-in-laws: Ruth Tyler, Dorothy Tyler, Roberta Mangum and Lula Mae Arnold; Brother-in-law: Nathaniel Herron (Barbara); a large extended family, former Liberty church family, and Olive Grove church family.

Bishop Harvey Tyler, a devoted servant of the Lord went to be with His Lord on Friday, February 28. On the morning of his homegoing, it was reported by nurse Maria that when she went into his room on the morning of February 28, she found him looking up toward heaven, singing a song: "I'm going home! I'm going home!" When she returned to his room at 11:45 am to wake him for lunch, he appeared sleep, then she shook him and was not able to wake him. He had indeed gone home!

Bishop Harvey Tyler will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Riverside National Cemetery on Wednesday, March 12 at 11:45 AM.