Deryl Hart Warner Sr.

Surrounded by his children and siblings, Dr. Deryl Hart Warner passed away peacefully at his home in Waverly, GA, on December 23, 2023, after a year-long diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, at the age of 62.

Deryl was born in Richmond, VA, on July 4, 1961, and predeceased by his parents, Dr. Charles Ernest and Julia Hart Warner. He is survived by his children, Deryl Hart Warner, Jr., Eliza Louise Ours (Luke) and Jackson Wesley Warner, who all grew up on St. Simons Island, GA. He is also survived by his siblings, Charles H. Warner, M.D. (Kelly) from Roanoke, VA; Mary Louise Gennett (Steve) from Charlotte, NC; Harrison F. Warner, M.D. (Noelle) from Nashville, TN; John W. Warner, M.D. (Courtney) from Winchester, VA; nieces and nephews, Julia Warner from Denver, CO; Anna Warner from Nashville, TN; Paul Gennett from New Haven, CT; Julia and William Gennett from Charlotte, NC; Carrie and Pete Warner from Winchester, VA.

Most of his youth was spent in Charlotte, NC, where Deryl graduated from Charlotte Latin School in 1979 as the salutatorian.

Deryl earned a BA in Chemistry from Duke University in 1983. As an undergraduate, he made life-long friends in Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity where he served as Secretary. A very clever, creative and humorous writer, his “minutes” as secretary are remembered by his fraternity brothers to this day!

Continuing his studies, Deryl earned a Doctor of Medicine in 1987 at Duke University School of Medicine and completed an Internal Medicine Internship at Roanoke Memorial Hospital in VA. He returned to Duke University Medical Center where he completed an Anesthesia Residency in 1991. Deryl was very proud of his namesake and grandfather, Dr. J. Deryl Hart, who was the first Chief of Surgery for Duke University Medical Center and a past President of Duke University. Known for their generosity to the Duke community, Dr. and Mrs. Hart opened their home on the campus to medical students and residents, including Deryl. From 1983-1991, Deryl made many memories living in the remodeled Chicken House at his grandparent’s home. His love for auto repair/restoration became evident when he used the front yard of the Hart House on Duke campus to disassemble an entire engine of an old Ford truck, and as he had promised his grandmother, he had it all put back together by the end of the day!

In July of 1991, St. Simons Island became his home, and where he began his career as an anesthesiologist. He was Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology in 1993. Until 2006, Deryl was a Staff Anesthesiologist for the Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick, GA, serving as the Chief of Anesthesia from 1999-2000. Licensed in both GA and NC, after 2006, he worked in several hospitals and clinics including in Rome, GA, St. Mary’s, GA, Morehead City, NC, and Brunswick, GA (Premier Surgery, Renue Surgery and Seaside Ophthalmology).

In 1989, Deryl met Frieda Fowinkle, and they married on August 1, 1992. During their 21-year marriage, they had three children of whom Deryl was extremely proud. Hart and Jackson work as Engineers, and Eliza is a professional photographer and interim youth director at St. Simons Presbyterian Church. Deryl and his family have been members of St. Simons Presbyterian Church since 1992. One of Deryl’s happiest memories is walking Eliza down the aisle to marry her husband, Luke Ours.

Deryl was an avid exerciser and loved to be outdoors biking, running or hiking. He enjoyed fishing and boating, even taking several trips up the intercoastal waterway from GA to NC with his family. His greatest passion, other than being with his children, would be Studebaker restoration, owning several classic cars in various stages of repair.

Lastly, Deryl loved having a dog and rescued his current dog, Mercer, on a dirt road in Camden County. Mercer has been Deryl’s constant companion in his last days.

A Memorial Service is planned for 11am on Saturday, December 30, at St. Simons Presbyterian Church on St. Simons Island, GA. A live stream will be available on the church website: www.sspres.org .

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia, The Honey Pot Bike Collective (honeypotbikecollective.godaddysites.com) in Jacksonville, FL, or to the Children & Youth Ministry at St. Simons Presbyterian Church.