Tuesday March 19th, 2024 2:44AM

Billy Starr Hardman, Gainesville's oldest physician, dies at age 98

By AccessWDUN Staff

Dr. Billy Starr Hardman, M.D., a well-known physician who was instrumental in building the medical community in Gainesville, has died at the age of 98.

Hardman was Gainesville's oldest physician at the time of his death on Monday, July 31, 2018. He died peacefully at his home in Longstreet Hills in Gainesville, according to his family.

Hardman was born July 13, 1920 at the old Downey Hospital in downtown Gainesville. According to his obituary, Hardman grew up in Gainesville, but his family lived for one year in Conyers, where he graduated from high school at the age of 16. From there, he attended North Georgia College in Dahlonega where he received an associate’s degree in sciences and was 1st LT. of his ROTC Platoon. He then attended the University of Georgia where he received a Bachelor of Science degree and was then admitted to the University Of Georgia School of Medicine in Augusta, now known as the Medical College of Georgia.

Hardman became a licensed physician at the age of 23.

After medical school graduation, with World War II underway, Hardman joined the United States Army and was commissioned as a 1st LT. in December 1943. He served his country as a physician in military hospitals from Florida to California. 

After the war, Hardman received a fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology. In 1948 he returned to Gainesville to open his medical practice at the age of 28. Hardman became the thirteenth doctor in Gainesville. 

Hardman was instrumental in lobbying for a new hospital in Gainesville; he and a group of physicians were able to successfully get approval for funding for what is now Northeast Georgia Medical Center. He served a Chief of Staff for NGMC in 1956. 

In addition, Hardman was one of the founders Lanier Park Hospital and served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Chief of Medical Staff.  Hardman also was one of the founders of the Hall County School of Nursing, which later became the Brenau University School of Nursing.

In his 44 years of medical practice, Hardman is thought to have delivered more than 12,000 babies.

Visitation for Dr. Billy Starr Hardman will be held Thursday, August 2, 2018 from 5 - 8 p.m. at Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel. A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday, August 3  at 11:30 a.m. at Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel. 

To read more about Dr. Hardman's life, follow this link to his full obituary. 

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News, Death / Obits News
  • Associated Tags: Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Brenau School of Nursing, medical news, Dr. Billy Starr Hardman, physician
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