Joseph H. Hardison Jr.

Joseph Hammond Hardison Jr. departed this life to be with his heavenly father and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday, April 4th.

He was born in Raleigh, NC on April 25th, 1932. He attended Raleigh public schools until going off to high school at Sewanee Military Academy in Sewanee, Tennessee. While there he lettered in 3 Sports, served on the honor council, received an Outstanding Senior Award at graduation and graduated Cum Laude.

He attended Duke University and after the completion of his sophomore year, he gained early acceptance into the Duke University Medical School. He graduated from Duke’s Medical School in just 3 years through an accelerated program.

At Duke, he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, the wrestling team and the swimming team.

He served an internship and residency at the New York-Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Immediately following, he served as a Lt. MC in the Medical Corps of the US Navy and as a ward medical officer at the MAAG Hospital in Taiwan and at the US Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan. Following his stint of active duty, he served in the US Naval Reserve as a Lt. Commander CDR in the medical corps.

In 1960, he joined the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and spent the next 4 years serving fellowships in internal medicine in cardiology and gastroenterology. While there, he met and married the love of his life, Dr. Cynthia Ann Stoltze.

In 1964, they moved to Raleigh and founded Hardison & Parr, a medical practice with Dr. John Parr which eventually became Raleigh Internal Medicine Associates. Dr. Joseph Hardison served on the medical staffs of the three hospitals located in Raleigh and was the first chairman of the department of medicine at the former Raleigh Community Hospital. In the early years of Wake Hospital, he conducted a Wednesday afternoon pro bono clinic. He served as president of the Wake County Heart Association and as president of the Raleigh Society of Internal Medicine. From 1975 to 1985, he served on the board governors of the American College of Gastroenterology. He was appointed to a clinical professorship in the department of gastroenterology at the University of North Carolina Medical School.

He was on the Raleigh board of directors of First Union Bank as well as on the board of directors of the former Edwards and Broughton Company.

He was a member of several social clubs and especially enjoyed membership in the NC Terpsichorean Club, the Hoover Syndicate and the St. Christopher’s Club.

He and his family enjoyed going to Atlantic Beach, and loved travelling to and staying at the Round Hill Beach Club near Montego Bay, Jamaica.

He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph Hammond Hardison and Katherine Smith Haridson and his two sisters Katherine Lamb and Sarah Locke Hoch. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia, his son Joseph Hammond Hardison III and wife De of Darien, CT, son Sanborn Stoltze Hardison and daughter Anna Katherine Hardison both of Raleigh and by two grandchildren, Taylor Ann Hardison and Joseph Hammond Hardison IV of Darien, CT.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at the White Memorial Presbyterian Church on Oberlin Rd in Raleigh, NC at 11 am Friday April 7, 2017. The family will receive following the service in the Jane Bell Gathering Space immediately following the memorial service. A Private Burial Service will be held at the Historic Oakwood Cemetery following the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Transitions LifeCare 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607and/or to White Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements are under the care of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary’s Street, Raleigh.

The Hardison Family would like to thank all of the individuals at the Cypress of Raleigh and the Rosewood who provided such compassionate care to Joe; especially to his primary caretakers throughout the years, Kathy and Floriano.

www.brownwynne.com