Dr. William Jackson Hardman Jr.

He was born on January 7, 1934 in Commerce, Georgia to Montine Sorrows Hardman and William Jackson Hardman, Sr. He grew up in Commerce on a farm, and was the oldest of five boys. Dr. Hardman graduated from Commerce High School at age 16 where he played football and ran track. Dr. Hardman graduated from Emory at Oxford in 1952, and continued on to Emory University where he graduated in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He later returned to Emory and Grady to complete his residency training with Dr. John Thompson after Dr. Hardman finished medical school. Dr. Hardman spent (2) years in the Air Force Reserves where he entered as a Captain and served as a Flight Surgeon. During his residency, Dr. Hardman originally aspired to become a pediatrician, but he found that there was too much sadness involved, so he decided to become an Obstetrician and Gynecologist because there was a lot of joy bringing children into the world.

At age 22, Dr. Hardman married the love of his life, Vesta Wofford, and was happily married for 64 years. After completing his undergraduate studies at Emory, Dr. Hardman continued on to the Medical College of Georgia from 1955-1959.

Dr. Hardman moved his family to Athens, Georgia where he joined Athens OB-GYN and practiced about 40 years. While bringing in so many babies into the world, Dr. Hardman also placed many adoptive children for couples unable to have their own.

Dr. Hardman was a member of the Athens Rotary Club, President of MOAA (Military Officers Association), Chi Phi Fraternity, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, The Athens Country Club, and a member of the Board of Directors at Emory at Oxford College. His professional affiliations included the Fellowship of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Crawford Long Medical Society, the South Atlantic Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. Dr. Hardman was also a member of the Medical Association of Georgia, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Hardman was certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1967, and he also served as the Chief of Staff at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Hardman established and was president of the Vesta and William J. Hardman, Jr Charitable Foundation which strives to fund the research and study of cancers, and donates scholarships to deserving students in high schools, colleges, and universities to help them continue their studies.

After retiring, Dr. Hardman was asked what he missed most about no longer practicing, and he said that he missed his patients. He loved all of his patients and all of their extended families dearly.

In addition to his parents, Dr. Hardman was preceded in death by brothers, James Hardman, Michael Hardman and David Hardman.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, include children, William J. Hardman, III (Lilya) and Shannon Hardman Anderson; grandchildren, Mitchell Hardman, Brigham Hardman, Hamilton Hardman and Olivia Anderson; and brother, Bobby Hardman (Stella).

A graveside service to celebrate the life of Dr. Hardman will be at 1:00 p.m., on Sunday, January 3, 2021, at Oconee Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., on Sunday, January 3, 2021, at Bernstein Funeral Home.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

www.BernsteinFuneralHome.com