Mr. Bernard Alan Harden

Mr. Bernard Alan Harden

Bernard Alan Harden, age 61, died of an apparent and sudden heart attack on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at his mother’s home in Santa Claus, Georgia. Given his father’s name as his first, he was known to all as Alan. Alan graduated from Lyons Senior High School in 1979 but attended Dublin City Schools until 7th grade. He played football for as many years as he could and was a part of the city champions of the Dublin recreation league while in elementary school. He was most proud of high school football team, the Lyons Bulldogs, and greatly admired his beloved coaches Jacky Jones and Earl Rodgers. He wore jersey number 79, and everyone knew you had better get out of the way when he was on the line. The Hardens are a football family and many wonderful times centered around Friday night. Weekdays were consumed by band and football practice and there were many times afterwards when some of Alan’s teammates would come over to “Mama Fran’s” house for her home cooking, especially her burgers and fries. After graduation, Alan moved to Louisiana to work on “the oil rigs.” This is where he met Janet and persuaded her to come to Georgia where they married and had two children, Carmen and Amy. Not long after, he entered employment with Georgia State Prison in Reidsville as a Corrections Officer until his retirement. Alan loved music, especially classic country and western. His favorites included Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Hank Williams, Jr., and David Allen Coe. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed literally laughing out loud to the likes of Flip Wilson, Johnny Carson, and Richard Pryor. Alan was an excellent cook, carpenter, and freshwater fisherman. Like his father, he liked being challenged by a daily crossword puzzle. He spent several years as a little league coach with the Lyons Recreation Department and always enjoyed a good card game and socializing with friends. In fact, he was very dedicated to his friends. More than anything, however, he relished spending time with his children and grandchildren. He will most likely be remembered by his grandchildren for his playful spirit. Although his heart failed him, he often gave love away freely and without abandon.

Alan is preceded in death by his father, Bernard Harden, paternal grandparents, Joe and Mary Elizabeth Harden, and his maternal grandparents, Charlie Hugh (C. H.) and Lillian Rustin. As he was part of a large, extended, and very loving family, it is important to mention others who passed before Alan: Aunts Mary Jo Harden Miller, Mary Rustin, Bobbie Nell Rustin Brantley, and Norma Jean Rustin Wilson. His uncle and one time employer, Hugh Charles (Buddy) Rustin, also preceded him in death.

Alan is survived by his children Carmen Juarez and husband Marcos of Plano, Texas and Amy NeeSmith and husband Blake of Nashville, Tennessee. He is also survived by his grandchildren whom he absolutely adored. They are Anthony Perez, Isabella Juarez, Harper NeeSmith, and Hudson NeeSmith. Surviving members of Alan’s immediate family include his mother, Frances Harden, his brother, Rod Harden and his wife Ashley, and sisters, Denise Bacon and her husband Fred, Melanie McLemore and her husband Mark, and Jenny Harden and Garrett Kammeraad. Surviving members of his extended family include Aunts Sue Grisham, Faye Rustin, and Chris Rustin and Uncle Erie Miller. Additional members of his surviving family include ex-wife, Janet Lee, and longtime companion, Roxanne Douberly. Many nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive Alan.

The funeral service was on Saturday, February 19, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Pastor Reece Mincey officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Moriah United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Alton Bass, Cody Douberly, Keith Driggers, Phillip Harden, William Harden, Andy Hearn, Vince Kirkley, and Ronnie Miller.

Ronald V. Hall

FUNERAL HOME

'Memories, of a Lifetime of Love'

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