Erskine, a native Charlottean, was born July 15, 1938 to Frances Owen and Erskine (Speedy) Harkey, Sr. He passed away quietly Wednesday evening, February 3, 2021 due to COVID-19. Erskine attended Charlotte public schools and graduated from Central High School, Class of 1956, where he made lifelong friends. He attended Duke University on a Naval ROTC scholarship and on June 7, 1960, the day after graduation, married his high school sweetheart, Betty Galloway. He then served three years in the US Navy. After receiving an MBA from Northwestern University, they returned to Charlotte where Erskine began his financial career with First Union National Bank. In 1987, he formed The Investor Advisory Group where he served his clients with integrity and friendship. Erskine loved spending time with his family, traveling, going to baseball games, watching Duke basketball, and working in his yard. He was a member of St. John’s Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, teacher, Seeker and servant. Additionally, Erskine volunteered his time and served numerous organizations, including the North Carolina Nature Conservancy, Habitat for Humanity, Charlotte Opera Board, and North Carolina Environmental Protection Agency.

Erskine and Betty recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. In addition to Betty, he is survived by sons, Scott (Jane) of Greensboro, NC, and Rick (Melanie) of Pfafftown, NC, and Australian Exchange daughter Melanie Collins Bennett of Canberra, Australia. He was “Doodah” to grandchildren Lizzy (Ryan Pass), John, and Anna-Dixon, who will forever cherish great memories of fun times with him.  Erskine loved Charlotte and as one classmate said, “his footprints are permanently embedded in the hallways of Central High and the streets of Charlotte”. The family extends thanks to the excellent Southminster caregivers who took such good care of him during his last days at Embrace Health Care.

Due to COVID restrictions, the family will have a private service of remembrance which will be live streamed on Sunday, February 7, 2021 at 1:00 PM. To view the live-stream, please visit the St. John’s Baptist Church Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Baptist Church, 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204 or to the Betty G. and Erskine L. Harkey, Jr. Scholarship, CPCC Foundation, PO Box 35009, Charlotte, NC 28235-5009.