Nora Stevens Harvey

Nora Stevens Harvey of Ocean Springs, MS, born Nora Terry Stevens in New Orleans, LA, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2026, at the age of 79. She is reunited at last with her beloved son Zach, dear friends, and many beloved kitties, her ‘angels in fur’.

Nora is survived by her devoted husband of 47 years, Chester Lyons Harvey; her daughter, Sarah Stevens Harvey (Gabrielle Bloch); her grandson, Oscar Harvey; her sister-in-law, Su Stevens; her nephew, Phillip Stevens; her brother-in-law, James F. Harvey, III (Mallory); her sister-in-law, Patricia Lynn Harvey (Paula Kinter); and her surrogate grandchildren, Nate Haug, Nolan Haug, Caroline Haug, and Andy Thurman, along with their parents, Lauren and Stopher Haug, and Derrick and Shelly Thurman.

She was preceded in death by her son, Zachary Campbell Harvey; her brother, Steve Stevens; and her nephew, Patrick Stevens.

Nora was a beacon of kindness and love, a Southern woman through and through, charming, gracious, and deeply thoughtful. She loved to laugh and to chat, reveling in stories deep into the night and always bringing a sneaky wit to the conversation. She was a voracious reader and texter. She excelled at making people feel at ease, whether through hosting, cooking, or sharing a thoughtful gift. She was deeply beloved, a Southern matriarch to her village, where her chosen family mattered every bit as much as blood. Many of Sarah and Zach’s close friends considered her their ‘second mama’ and would seek her counsel throughout their childhoods and into adulthood.

Nora graduated from All Saints Episcopal School in Vicksburg, MS, in 1964, where she formed lasting friendships that thrived until her passing. She went on to graduate from the University of Mississippi in 1968 with a BBA, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She loved college and sowed some wild oats before graduating. After college, she worked at Parkland Hospital in Dallas for two years before moving to Jackson, MS, where she worked for Dr. George Smith at University Medical Center for seven years. She worked as a realtor for 25 years alongside Chester at Chester Harvey Realtors.

Nora’s extraordinary cooking was legendary. Seasons were marked by what came out of her kitchen: springtime plates were filled with shrimp spaghetti and sugar snap peas; summertime brought fresh cucumbers with Vidalia onions and fat Creole tomato sandwiches, sweet, sautéed summer squash; with fall came split pea soup and sun-dried tomato pasta. There was always dessert: chocolate chip cookies, black bottom pie, and unforgettable rum raisin Bundt cake.

For more than 35 years, she hosted a robust Christmas dinner for family and friends, complete with cranberry-glass tablescapes and a sterling silver punch bowl filled with her best friend Judy McCarty’s potent eggnog. Her Christmas beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce, painstakingly perfected alongside her favorite sous chef, Zach, was always wiped clean. She could be found grilling on Christmas morning, talking to the meat as it cooked and controlling the flame with a cup of water, while the rest of the family buzzed about the house preparing greenery and table settings. She was thrilled when people became members of the “clean plate club.”

Nora was a fiercely devoted mother who showed up for Sarah and Zach at every soccer game, volleyball match, dance recital, and cross-country meet despite not having a lick of athletic ability or trying much to understand the rules. She was a proud mother who simply needed to be there, cheering them on. This devotion extended to her surrogate grandchildren, attending their games and events with the same unwavering presence. She delighted in Oscar’s every laugh, his recent skills at math and dancing. She lit up when he entered a room or appeared on FaceTime to talk to his Nana. They loved to watch PJ Masks together at home. Her final Christmas, she beamed in delight watching Chester and Oscar make each other laugh.

She lived by a motto with children: “Find out what they want and give it to them.” Everyone who knew Nora knew this phrase by heart. Once she became a grandmother, all bets were off. Nana would absolutely give the kids candy, chocolate, and toys, and she made no apologies; she was not to be crossed. She hosted annual Christmas cookie parties throughout her own children’s childhood and continued them long after Sarah and Zach had left home, for the children of their friends. She worked tirelessly with the PTA and Junior Auxiliary, providing for those in need. Cats and children could never do wrong in her eyes. Her most recent angel in fur, Snowflake, would sit on her shoulder every evening, obscuring her view of the TV and eating from Nora’s plate.

After Hurricane Katrina, when much of the coast was destroyed, Nora and Chester’s home miraculously sustained little damage. They became a respite for everyone, a place to make meals and feed those who had lost so much, and a place to shelter until people could get back on their feet. Even in that time of trauma, there was laughter.

Nora and Chester were two peas in a pod, relishing each other’s presence. They married on December 30, 1978, and were together until her last moments. They loved taking road trips, listening to audiobooks along the way, enjoying the open road and one another’s company. In her final years, Chester was her primary caregiver, reading to her at night and tirelessly ensuring she was comfortable. He cared for her with a devotion that defined their love.

Despite years of decline and pain following the loss of Zach in 2021, Nora was rarely not in good spirits. She remained curious about people’s lives and was always available to take a call from a friend. She was a consummate devotee of Ina Garten, Mary Jane’s Crazy Mixed-Up Salt, more garlic, and extra butter. In her final months, she was surrounded by gladiolas and paperwhite lilies.

At the end, Nora let Chester know she was ready, and she let go. She is at peace now, no longer in pain, reunited with her beloved son Zach and the friends she held so dear. She is still with us as we go on with our days, smile, and laugh at the jokes we shared. She would always say, “You make me laugh,” and it filled those around her with joy.

To have known Nora, even briefly, was to experience her joy, warmth, and zeal. The world is better for having had her here for almost 80 years. Those lucky enough to call her a friend can move more easily through their days, knowing she is no longer in pain, and smiling at all the wonderful memories. Her favorite time of day was the blue hour, when light softens and shadows lengthen, a time of mystery and beauty, of closing and beginning. In spring, she delighted in the change of season: azaleas in full bloom, Japanese magnolias and wisteria perfuming the air.

A celebration of Nora’s life will be held in mid-May 2026, around what would have been her 80th birthday. Details to follow.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes is honored to serve the family of Nora Stevens Harvey.