Honorable Patricia Hardaway, Judge

Honorable Pat Hardaway of 356 Gardenia Drive, Evans, Probate Judge of Columbia County, passed away Friday, July 15, 2011 at Georgia Health Sciences University in Augusta. Judge Hardaway will lie in state in the Columbia County Courthouse in Appling on Sunday, July 17, 2011 from 6:00pm until 9:00pm where the family will receive friends. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 18, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Baptist Church with Dr. Randall Edmunds officiating. Judge Hardaway will be interred in the church cemetery where her parents are buried. The church is located at 4281 Greenwood Church Rd., Lincolnton, Ga. 30817. First elected to the Office of Probate Judge in 1980, Judge Hardaway held that position until the time of her death, having run unopposed in the ensuing elections. She was a member of the County Officers Association of Georgia and the National Probate Judges Council holding numerous leadership offices in each. Additionally she was a dedicated member of the Columbia County Historical Society. Born in Gurnsey, Wyoming, she was the daughter of the late Horace H. and Mabel Maise McGee. She spent most of her life in Lincoln and Columbia Counties, having been a resident of Columbia County since 1963. Judge Hardaway was of the Methodist faith. Her brother, Robert L. McGee, preceded her in death. Survivors include... Husband: R. Doug Hardaway Daughters: Pamela H. Postell, Evans Penny H. Saggus & husband Maury, Martinez Grandchildren: Amie Postell & Ashlee Postell Sister: Loretta M. Nelson & husband Byron, Walton, KY Brother: James A. (Jim) McGee, Lincolnton And a number of nieces, nephews, and other relatives The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Columbia County Historical Society, P.O. Box 203, Appling, GA. 30802, or to the American Cancer Society. POSTED BELOW ARE THE COMMENTS MADE AT HER FUNERAL BY HER COUSIN, DR. RANDALL EDMUNDS On behalf of the Hardaway family I thank you for being here this afternoon. We have come together as family and friends to celebrate the life of The Honorable Patricia McGee Hardaway. Most of us know her simply as Pat and that is probably the way she would always have us remember her. No doubt most of you entered these doors today with sadness and a heavy heart. But if we are going to properly celebrate the life of Pat we need to put smiles on our faces and lighten up! Pat loved life and lived it to the fullest. She loved the GA Bulldogs, redbirds and Bluegrass music. She was full of gusto and her presence would liven up any gathering. Someone once said, "People say you should just wait for the storm to pass, but I've learned to dance in the rain." This was Pat. She embraced every opportunity and made the best of whatever came her way. It's so appropriate that the background music for her "life" video is "What a Wonderful World." She did see leaves of green; she did take time to smell the roses; and she did fill the world with love and hope. She did look upon every day as an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life Pat was the perfect blend of her parents. From Uncle Horace she got a generous share of McGee daring and devilment but it was tempered with charm and grace from Aunt Mable. The result was the beautiful and unique person we know as Pat---fun-loving, full of energy, possessing a deep love for her family and friends, loyal to her county and country and deeply devoted to all. And, being a McGee we can't overlook the fact that she was a little stubbon, very highly opinionated and sometimes downright bossy! But she had a way of being diplomatic and graceful and could get by with saying things that, if said by others, might have been offensive. Pat's personality was beyond outgoing and her smile was infectious. She was a smart lady---I am told by those who knew her best and worked with her that her common sense was far greater than her book sense even though she knew the law. She loved her country, her state, her county and the history of each. She was an avid reader and once made the comment that when she retired she thought she might go to work at the library where she would be surrounded by books. Pat was the oldest of the McGee granddaughters and I was one of the younger McGee grandsons so my early memories of her are vague. However, she and I did share one momentous occurrence in our lives. She was elected as Probate Judge in Columbia County at the same time I was elected to be School Superintendent in Lincoln County in 1980. Ironically we served our respective counties in these positions the same number of years-30