Edward Harley Sr.

Edward Harley Sr., 80, passed away Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at Hampton Regional Medical Center. arrangements are entrusted to Allen Funeral Home and are pending at this time. We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our tribute wall.

Visitation for Mr. Edward Harley will be held Tuesday, May 18, 2021, from 5-7 PM at Allen Funeral Home Complex in Ridgeland, a second visitation will be held Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at Allen Funeral Home in Beaufort (1508 Duke Street). The funeral will be held Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 10 o'clock in the morning at Lady's Island Baptist Church grounds.

Deacon Edward Melvin Harley, Sr., son of the late Mary Harley Capers and the late Harold Alston was born on Thursday October 10, 1940 in Beaufort County, South Carolina and
reared by Sissy Atkins until adulthood.
Harley began singing the gospel in 1956 with a group called the Southern Echoes of Beaufort, SC while he was a junior in high school. "Harley" as he was affectionately called graduated from St.Helena High School in 1957. Since this time, Harley has organized and sung with many groups such as the Traveling Echoes, The Mightly Golden Trumpet of Burton, South Carolina, the Bible Tones of Burton, SC where he sang until he moved to Hardeeville, S.C.
In 1969 after attending the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, Harley joined the Beaufort County Police Department, becoming the third African American police officer serving as
a deputy sheriff. Later, he joined the Beaufort City Police Department as a policeman. Harley moved to Hardeeville, S.C. and joined the Jasper County Police Department as a deputy sheriff. He increased his experience by joining the South Carolina Forestry Commission as a warden and the South Carolina Public Service Commision as an inspector and state police officer.
In 1982, he joined the Gospel Stars of Levy S.C. and sang with them for over fourteen years. While living in Jasper County he joined the Christian Travelers and the Trumpet Travelers of
Savannah, Georgia. His singing career spanned sixty-five years. Harley was also a beloved deacon, first trustee, member of the male chorus, and lifelong member of Lady's Island Baptist Church. His favorite gospel song was "my work will be done". Harley loved his family immensely and was well loved within his community. Now that he has finished singing down here and his work is done Deacon Harley will sit down beside King Jesus.
Early Tuesday Morning May 11, 2021, Harley quietly slipped into eternal rest at Hampton Regional Hospital, Hampton SC. His wife Vernetha Brown Harley predeceased 1994, daughter Sandra Brown predeceased 2005, and grandson Dezmond Brown predeceased 2012.
He leaves cherished memories with his children Sharon Harley, Levy SC, DeEdra Wright, Savannah GA, Edward Harley Jr(Ebony), Tacoma WA, Felicia Harley, Greenville, SC, Gary Houston, Port Royal, SC and Barry Houston, Lady's Island SC. Siblings Henry Capers (Mattie) Lady's Island SC, Frank Capers Lady's Island SC, Eddie M. Capers, Washington DC, Betty Mae Singleton Beaufort SC, Rosa Lee Cohen, Beaufort SC, Arthur Lee Atkins, Beaufort, SC, Shirley Atkins Beaufort SC, John Wesley Atkins, Beaufort SC, Charlie Atkins Summerville SC, Edith Washington, Beaufort SC, Estella Brown Big Estate, SC and Mabel Alston Jacksonville, FL. 18 grandchildren, a host of great-grandchildren and great-great grand children, niece and nephews, siblings and other relatives, a very special companion Elizabeth Rhett Ridgeland, SC and many friends.

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Please actively practice social distancing (6-feet apart) and wear your mask at ALL times during the services that Allen Funeral Home provides.

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