Dr. Harry Harper III

Evans, GA - Dr. Harry Taylor Harper, III entered into rest on June 1, 2024.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Meriam Kilner Harper, his brother William W. Harper of Athens, and his parents, Dr. & Mrs. Harry T. Harper, Jr.

Born in Augusta, Ga in 1939, Dr. Harper graduated from Richmond Academy after proudly being on the 1957 ARC State Golf Championship team. He then went to Emory University & the University of Georgia where he was a member of Chi Phi fraternity. He later graduated from the Medical College of Georgia and practiced cardiology for 44 years at University Hospital from 1972-2016. He served in the Public Health Service in Boston from 1970-1972 while doing post graduate study at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was beloved by his many patients for his calm and comforting bedside manner. He was chief of cardiology at University & St. Joseph’s hospitals, was a member of the American Medical Association, the Paul Dudley White Society, the Richmond County Medical Society, the American Heart Association, and past president of the Georgia Heart Association. One of his fondest memories was accompanying his father when he treated former President Eisenhower at Ft. Gordon.

Dr. Harper was a lifelong member and elder of Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, also a member of the Heritage Club & past president of the Augusta Assembly. He had a deep love for the game of golf, and he especially enjoyed his time as a member of the Augusta National Golf Club and the Augusta Country Club as well as golfing trips to Scotland and around the US with the A6A golf group. He loved summer trips to Hilton Head with his grandchildren, UGA football, and country music. 

Dr. Harper is survived by his children: William Harper, Michael Harper (Elaine), Holly Welsh (Richard), 7 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, nieces & nephews. 

The family would like to thank his friend and loving caregiver, Gloria Mims, as well as the staff in the Pavilion at Brandon Wilde and Southeast Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2261 Walton Way, Augusta, GA, 30904, or to the Dr. Harry T. Harper Jr. Endowment benefitting the Harry T. Harper Jr., MD, School of Cardiac and Vascular Technology, c/o the Piedmont Augusta Foundation, PO Box 3912 Augusta, GA, 30914-3912.

Pallbearers will be Haley Roberts, Richard Magruder, Guy McLeod, Dudley Bowen, Maxwell Vallotton, & Edo Douglass. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the A6A and The Geezers lunch group.

The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 5, at Thomas Poteet & Son, 214 Davis Rd., and funeral services will be held at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am Thursday, June 6, followed by interment at Westover Memorial Park.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com