Phyllis Giles Hardeman

Phyllis Giles Hardeman, a gracious and engaging woman of wide-ranging interests, boundless curiosity and abiding Christian faith, died Thursday, Sept. 15 in Statesboro, Ga., surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. Hardeman was the daughter of the late Le Neville Giles and Ruby Elizabeth Rosier Giles. Born in Savannah, she was reared in Chatham and Effingham counties. She served as an aircraft spotter during World War II, and was proud to say that no enemy planes were able to successfully attack her hometown during the war. She graduated from Armstrong Junior College. Loving her native South and growing up in post-war conditions, she developed a range of interests, many which reflect the political and historical events she observed in her early days. A voracious reader, she surrounded herself with books and began every morning reading the Bible. She loved sports and for many years held season tickets in football and basketball for the Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Southern Eagles as well as avidly following the Atlanta Braves. She was a bird watcher and keen observer of nature's flora and fauna, and celebrated each change of season and its astronomical markers. She kept a detailed diary of Savannah's daily temperatures and precipitation and served as a Weather Watcher for WTOC. She could cite the botanical name of every plant at her Thunderbolt home. Mrs. Hardeman was a founding member of the Savannah Area Republican Women and had served as its president. She served on the Citizen's Advisory Committee to Chatham Urban Transportation System, and was a member of the John Birch Society, Chatham County Republican Committee, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Savannah Grays Civil War Roundtable, Coastal Heritage Society, Bonaventure Historical Society, Thunderbolt Garden Club, Savannah Bulldog Club, Chatham Club, St. David's Chapter of the Welsh Society and the Mighty Eighth Historical Society. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Savannah for 68 years, and often attended Pittman Park United Methodist Church in Statesboro. Mrs. Hardeman was married for 50 years to Frank Hardeman Jr., M.D., who predeceased her. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Phyllis and David Thompson of Statesboro, and her son and daughter-in-law, Frank Hardeman III and Juliet Hardeman of Savannah; and her granddaughters Haley and Hannah Hardeman, cousins and friends.

Visitation : 9:30am-11:00am Saturday at Pittman Park United Methodist Church in Statesboro, GA.
Funeral Services: 11:00am Saturday at Pittman Park United Methodist Church with Rev. Bill Bagwell and Rev. Mike Huling officiating.

Visitation in Savannah: 2:00pm-5:00pm Sunday in the Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hubert C. Baker Chapel.
Graveside Services: 11:00am Monday in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens with Rev. Billy Hester officiating.

Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hubert C. Baker Chapel
Savannah, GA 31406
912-927-1999 www.bakermccullough.com