Dr. Byron F. Harper Jr.

Wed, 04/16/2008 - 10:31am
By: The Citizen

Byron F. Harper, Jr., M. D., 85, was called home to be with the Lord on April 12, 2008, after many years of faithful service to this family, his church, and his community. Born on February 1, 1923, to Byron Harper, Sr. and Mary May Harper, Byron is survived by his precious wife, Rose Marie and their five loving children, Holly Adams, Debby Sorrow, Lindy Hale, Dr. Byron Harper III, and Rick Harper, and twenty grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Byron had three sisters Ruby Fordham, the late Mildred Weaver, and the late Ruth McConnell. Byron's life was devoted to service. After graduating from the Emory University School of Medicine, Byron served his country as an officer in the United States Navy. After the war, he went into private practice in West End and later East Point where he served both communities faithfully and lovingly for over 40 years. He served on the staffs of Piedmont, Crawford Long, and Holy Family Hospitals. He served as a visiting professor at Grady Hospital for Emory University School of Medicine and was one of the founding doctors of South Fulton Hospital. Besides his legacy of his family, perhaps his greatest legacy was in the vision and co-founding of Christian City which has served thousands of people with its children's home, retirement village, assisted living facility, Alzheimer's cottage, and a convalescent center. Byron and Rose Marie were one of the founding families of Southwest Christian Church where he served as an elder and teacher for over 50 years. Over 25 years ago Byron was one of the visionaries to start the first free standing hospice in Georgia, Southwest Christian Care, where he volunteered as medical director for 20 years. Both Christian City and Southwest Christian Care stand on land he donated. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, April 16, at 1 p.m. at Southwest Christian Church on Washington Road in East Point, Ga. with the body placed in-state at noon. The burial will follow at the cemetery located on the corner of Ga. Highway 138 and Lester Rd. Dr. Jimmy Donovan, Rick Harper and Pastor Greg Marksberry will be officiating. Those wishing may send an online condolence at www.parrottfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Southwest Christian Care at 7225 Lester Rd., Union City, Ga. 30291 or to Georgia Tech Christian Campus Fellowship at 767 Techwood Dr., Atlanta, Ga. 30313, or Christian City at 7345 Red Oak Rd., Union City, Ga. 30291. Parrott Funeral Home, Fairburn, in charge.

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