Darwin Carter Hardison, age 93, of Fairhope, Alabama, died Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
Darwin was born in Franklin County, Tennessee. He attended The University of The South, Sewanee, Tennessee, and graduated from Howard College, now Samford University, in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. During the Korean War he served in the US Army Medical Corps from 1952-1954. He began his pharmacy career at Collins Drugs and Wikle at Saks before becoming owner of Crow Drug Store in Jacksonville, Alabama. He retired in 2001. He was fortunate to have a career which he loved.
Darwin’s civic interests included serving as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician with the Jacksonville Fire Department, the Jacksonville Hospital Building Authority, the Jacksonville Hospital Board, and the Jacksonville Industrial Development Board. There were many happy years playing tennis and collecting pharmacy memorabilia.
Mr. Hardison was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Gillespie and Christine Woods Hardison, his brothers, Jack Morgan Hardison and Dr. Thomas Edwin Hardison (Diana). He is survived by his wife, Elaine S. Hardison; his son, Darwin Mark Hardison (Pam) Fairhope, AL; grandson, Austin Mark Hardison (McCall) and their children, Charles Henry Hardison and Louisa Nelle Hardison of Birmingham, AL; granddaughter, Claire Hardison Brown (Tyler) and their children, Ann Parrish Brown and Hardison Lee Brown of Fairhope, AL; grandson, William Owen Hardison (Grace Ann) and their children, William Owen Hardison, Jr. and Edward Carl Hardison of Birmingham, AL; and cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express their appreciation for the care provided by Springhill Hospice.
The family will have a private Celebration of Life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Red Mountain Grace, a Birmingham-based nonprofit that provides fully furnished apartments for patients and caregivers receiving long-term medical care. Checks may be mailed to 2120 16th Avenue South #210, Birmingham AL 35205 or online at www.redmountaingrace.com/give
Expressions of condolence for the family may be made at www.hughesfh.com. Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, AL, is assisting the family.
Darwin and Dixianna, my mother, were the best of cousins. They had such a beautiful friendship. I was able to watch them reminisce 2 yrs ago when we stopped through to visit. Such precious memories and long laughter the two of them had together. We love Elaine, Darwin’s wife, she is a treasure. God knows we will be together again in HIS Prescence.