Jack Hart
Jack Summers Hart, US Army Retired, 87, from LaFayette, Georgia passed away on December 7, 2022, at his home.
He was born on August 12, 1935, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the only child to John Lory and Sara S. Hart. He spent his childhood in Erin, Tennessee and attended high school at Columbia Military Academy where his love of country, service and duty was fostered. He graduated college from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute and served in the ROTC during his collegiate years. During his youth, he spent his summers on a riverboat serving as a Marine Engineer for Ingram Corporation and he loved spending time there.
Upon graduation, Mr. Hart was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army where he served for 22 years of active duty with four years in the Tennessee National Guard. He retired as a Major on November 30, 1978, at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama.
Throughout his military career Major Hart served in the following military locations: Ft. Knox, KY; Ft. Irwin, CA; Ft. Riley, KS; Camp Perry, OH; Ft. Campbell, KY; Ft. Gordon, GA; Ft. McClellan, AL and he served oversees in Germany, Belgium, Panama, and Vietnam.
In serving our country, Major Hart was awarded various military awards including Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Four Bronze Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Senior Parachutist Badge, Green Beret Qualification, and Jungle Expert Badge.
In addition to his service to country, Major Hart served his community both through his employment and his volunteer time.
After retirement, Major Hart and his family moved to LaFayette, Georgia. He served Tri City Construction as the General Superintendent, LaFayette Housing Authority as the Executive Director, Building Inspector for the City of LaFayette, the owner of Construction Management Associates, Co-Founder of LaFayette Rentals Inc. and HARPO, Inc.
He was a member of the Episcopal Church and served in various congregations as a Sunday School teacher, Treasurer, Secretary, Vestry, Junior and Senior Warden. He was a member of The Church of the Nativity in Fort Oglethorpe.
Major Hart was a 50+ year member of AF and AM, Knights Templar and 32° Scottish Rite, American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US, Disable Americans Veterans Organization, and former member of Kiwanis and Rotary Club.
Major Hart served as an Admissions Volunteer for the five U.S. military academies and assisted in recruiting high school graduates into all five academies during the 1980s.
Throughout his life, Major Hart received accommodations and awards demonstrating the impact he had on people and communities. These awards include the Church Army Medal given by the Bishop of the Diocese of Panama; 1977 Man of the Year from Jacksonville, Alabama; Outstanding Service Award from Kiwanis Club; 1988 Distinguished Service Award from the LaFayette Chamber of Commerce; District Scouter Award from the Boy Scouts of America.
Major Hart is survived by his wife of 59 years, Karen Ann Pope Hart; LTC Steven. D. Hart, Ph.D. (Christina), CSM Brian Pope Hart (Patty), Jeffrey S. Hart (Bel), and Lori A. Hart, Ph.D. (Clay Wardlaw) and sixteen grandchildren (Joanna, Ian (Madeline), Andrew (Gabriella), Liam, Duncan, Margaret, Felicity, Aiden, Ky, Brady, Jack Summers Hart II, Henle, Madeline, Fulton, Brayden, and Sidney and one great grandson, Jack Timothy Hart. In addition to his blood family, LeBron Wooten (Teresa), was an honorary son that he loved like his own.
Visitation and Funeral
The family will receive visitors at the LaFayette Housing Authority (300 Oak St, LaFayette, GA 30728) on Saturday, December 17th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET.
Funeral services and a reception will be held at the Church of the Nativity (1201 Cross Street, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742) on Sunday, December 18th at 3 p.m. ET.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are asked for the organizations below or a charity/church of your choice.
Church of Nativity (Attn: Book of Remembrance)
PO Box 2356
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
Masons Western Lodge #91
201 N Duke Street
LaFayette, GA 30728
Amedisys Hospice
1510 N Thornton Ave Suite 200
Dalton, GA 30720