Garland Lee Hardison

Garland Lee Hardison went to be with the Lord his savior on January 20, 2012, in Clearwater, Florida, with loving family members beside his bedside. Garland was born in Williamston, North Carolina to the parents of immigrant sharecroppers on June 3, 1931. Upon graduation from Williamston High School in 1950, he enlisted with the U.S. Air Force and completed a full career with retirement with multiple deployments around the country and the world. He served in the Korean Conflict and was pulling guard duty on the 38th Parallel on the South and North Korean border when the Armistice was signed. Dad was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving at several foreign duty stations including Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa. . During his military career Dad also held assignments in Canada, Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, and Mississippi, retiring from Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi in April 1971. Along the way, he met and married Gail Kathleen O’Neal of Gulfport, Mississippi, and started a family. A daughter and two sons were born to the proud parents and the adventures of raising a family kept Garland and Gail busy with band concerts, little league baseball games, guitar lessons, church activities, and the like. Mr. Hardison was preceded in death by his wife, Gail Kathleen O’Neal Hardison, his mother and father, Martin Belmer Hardison and Bessie May Griffin Hardison; two brothers, M.B. Hardison, John Wesley Hardison, four sisters, Isabelle Brock, Sue Benson, Marie Lewis, and Faye Hardison. He is survived by a daughter, Kathy Lynn Hardison Wells (Ron); two sons, Garland Keith Hardison (Lauren) and Brian Lee Hardison (Kelly); a sister, Clara Mae Scott; and three grandchildren, Derek, Kalyn, and Meghan Hardison. Although Garland and the family lived in various places during his military service, they made and called Gulfport home. In fact, after retiring from the Air Force, he worked as a contractor for the Naval Construction Battalion Center “Seabee” base in Gulfport. Dad had a passion to serve others and was a long term member of the Joe Graham Post #119 of the American Legion, serving as the Chaplain for many years, providing support to post members and the military community at large. With this passion, Daddy realized a life-long dream and opened an eatery in downtown Gulfport known as the G&G Restaurant. Upon its closing the Gulfport newspaper called it a loss of a local landmark to those desiring a home cooked meal. Dad was also a longtime member of Grace Memorial Baptist Church. Garland cherished and loved his family and would constantly tell us, “I am proud of you!” Well Dad, the family is as proud of you as you are of us and we will miss your hugs, smiles, and wonderful manner deeply. Know that you have instilled in us your spirit and compassion for others- the best gift a father can give to his children. Loving you forever, Kathy, Keith, and Brian Visitation will be Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport from 6 until 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Finley Cemetery with USAF Honors. The family prefers memorials to Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Rd., Ste. 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com