Captain in U.S. Army

Mr. James "Jim" David Hardy, 83, of Tifton passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at Navicent Health Hospital of Macon.

A graveside service were held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at Oakridge Cemetery with Rev. Larry Layfield officiating.

Mike Pearson, Jeff Parson, Regg Lott, Charlie Lott, Greg Stone, Eric Stone and Patrick Stone will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Pearson, Wendell Pearson, Don Pearson, Jr. and David Pearson.

Mr. Hardy was born May 5, 1939 in Tift County to the late James Remer Hardy and Marie Taylor Hardy. Mr. Hardy graduated with Honors from Tift High School in 1957. He then attended North Georgia Military College in Dahlonega GA where he graduated in 1961 with Honors and a degree in Physics. He was commissioned into the US Army as a second Lieutenant and accepted a fellowship to Penn State University where he earned Double Master's in Electrical Engineering and Physics. He graduated with Honors in 1964.

Following graduation, he continued his service in the United States Army as First Lieutenant assigned to Signal Corp in Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey. He was briefly assigned to Vietnam to set up one of the first special communications services. Following this mission, he was promoted to Captain in the US Army. In 1967, he completed his service in the Armed forces and returned to Sylvester Ga to join the family business- Hardy Beef Packers Inc. He initially served as Executive Vice President in charge of general operations, and then President of the company until the business was sold in 1976. Later, Jim founded Hardy Data Systems and developed multiple software programs for radio stations and ham operators. He also invested in radio stations around South Georgia. Most recently, he worked part time in bookkeeping for South Georgia Orthopedic Resources in Tifton.

Jim had a passion for ham radio. He started as a ham radio operator in his high school years, being one of Tifton's earliest amateur radio experts and operators. He learned Morse code at a young age and developed expert proficiency. Jim traveled to many parts of the world with friends, family, and church members. He visited the Holy Land, and enjoyed taking trains through the countries of Europe. Jim was a member of Poland Baptist church where he played the organ for many years. He enjoyed his church family during his years in Sylvester, Ga and volunteered in his community.

In 1990, Jim moved to Tifton and married his lifelong friend Linda on November 20, 1992. They were married by a special friend Larry Layfield and all three wore jeans to the service. Jim loved all three of Linda's daughters as his own, and was always a strong presence in each of their lives. He went on to have 4 awesome grandchildren who called him Jim Daddy. He was there for every special activity in their lives including birthday parties, ball games, and dance recitals. Jim's friends and family fondly remember his love for meal planning, often sharing his plans in great detail with his loved ones. Chocolate was his favorite dessert, and you could always find a Hershey bar hidden in his desk drawer. HIs favorite pastimes included watching Braves baseball, movies, pruning his rose bushes, and walking his sweet dog Roxie.

Mr. Hardy is survived by his wife Linda Pearson Hardy of Tifton; stepdaughters, Lyn Parson and husband Jeff, Lela Layfield, Laurie Lott and Husband Regg; Beloved grandchildren Charlie Lott, Kenna Layfield, Carrie Ann Layfield and Abbie Lott all of Tifton; his sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Don Pearson of Tifton; his nephews, Don Pearson, Jr., Mike and Kelly Pearson of Tifton and David Pearson of Nashville, TN.; great niece and nephews, Taylor and Jeffrey Wessel of Cordele and Keaton Pearson of Aspen, Colorado.

Albritton Funeral Directors was in charge of the arrangements.