Clair Hardwick Tift

Clair Hardwick Tift, 80, a third generation native of Atlanta, GA died January 29, 2013 in her sleep after a thirty year battle with breast cancer. Clair was born August 20, 1932, to Caroline Shivers and Richard Holmes Hardwick. She attended Christ the King School and graduated from Washington Seminary. At the Seminary, she was a member of Phi Pi sorority and May Court. Clair continued her education at Marjorie Webster Junior College in Washington, DC and later transferred to the University of Georgia where she was a member of the Kappa, Kappa Gamma sorority. She then married Thomas Willingham Tift Jr. Clair actively participated in the Atlanta Junior League and the Ivy Garden Club. She was a devout Christian and a life long member of The Cathedral of St Philip. Clair was a devoted mother, grandmother and friend who always sacrificed and put others before herself. She loved life and had a fabulous sense of humor. Whether it was playing tennis with the backyard biddies, eating lunch with her bridge club or playing golf with her friends, she lived life to the fullest and always had fun. Some of her fondest memories were going to East Beach on St. Simons Island always referring to it as “The Island. “ Clair shared her love for “The Island” by teaching her children and grandchildren how to seine, fish, catch crabs, and play golf. Being an avid golfer, Clair went to Scotland to watch the British Open at Carnoustie and shot a hole in one on #16 at the Ocean Course at the Ponte Vedra Club. Another highlight later in life was a trip to Derbyshire, England to visit Hardwick Hall. Clair is survived by her three children, Tommy Tift III, Richard Hardwick Tift and Caroline Tift Harrison, son–in-law George Lowndes Harrison III and four grandchildren George Lowndes Harrison IV, Clair Hardwick Harrison, Catherine Tift Harrison, and Austin Nicole Northerner. A memorial service will be held at H. M. Paterson and Son, Spring Hill on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:30 am and a burial service at Westview Cemetery will follow. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Lockery Arbetorem, P.O. Box 310, Milledgeville, GA 31059 or The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, 30305. Condolences may be made at www.hmpattersonspringhill.com.