Last Sunday (Dec. 14) Izola Marie Harvey was celebrated by family, friends, and members of the community on the occasion of her 100th birthday. The event, attended by approximately 170 people, including the Premier, the Hon. David Burt, honoured her life, legacy, and contributions to Bermuda.
In 1959, alongside her late husband Gerald Harvey, Ms Harvey became one of twenty Bermudians who formed the Progressive Group. At a time when segregation was legal and deeply rooted in daily life, the Group took deliberate and courageous action to bring about change, culminating in the Theatre Boycott of 1959, an organised and nonviolent protest that led to the ending of segregation in Bermuda. Ms Harvey is the mother of Donna Harvey Maybury and Lisa Harvey Simmons. Her grandson, Gregg Maybury Jr., is a well-known former cricketer.
Speaking at the event, Premier Burt reflected on Ms Harvey’s lifetime of service and her lasting impact on the country. He said, “The change that has been achieved in and by the lifetime we recognise today is nothing short of remarkable. You were not a bystander. You were an integral part of a movement that changed Bermuda forever. Today we celebrate not only the milestone of reaching 100 years but the substance and meaning of those years. On behalf of the Government I say, a happy 100th birthday to you today, Ms Harvey. I know that all Bermuda joins with me in saying not just happy birthday, but thank you.”