Obituary of George Bowman Hartness

George Bowman Hartness, husband of the late Isola Carmen Sherrerd Hartness, died June 9, 2015. Mr. Hartness was born March 26, 1919 in Orangeburg, SC. He was a son of the late Orlander Whitley Hartness and Mary Isabella Crum Hartness. He moved with his family to Columbia when he was five years old and remained there until his death. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Hartness served the entire course of WWll in the Pacific Theatre with the 4th Marine Division, retiring as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He was involved in engagements on Kwajalien in the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima and received a Bronze Star for Outstanding Service in Combat as well as the Purple Heart. Mr. Hartness initially worked with his father in the soft drink bottling business. He later left that occupation to pursue his passion for history, art and 18th century and fine antiques. For decades, his antique shop, One Thousand Gervais, was a favorite source for antique lovers around the country. In addition to his love for art and antiques, he also took great pleasure in gardening. His knowledge in horticulture and landscape design was evident in the beautiful park-like gardens he and his wife created. Over the years, George and Isola Hartness shared their gardens for numerous civic and charitable events. Mr. Hartness was an avid horseman in his earlier years. His favorite horse, Bacchus, was found in Oklahoma by a Marine Corp friend and sent to Columbia by boxcar. Bacchus went on to win the Hunter Trials in Tryon, NC, along with ribbons from many other shows. Mr. Hartness was a member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. He was a former member of the Tarantella Club, Forest Lake Club, Spring Valley Country Club, the Palmetto Club, and Wildewood Country Club. He founded and was the first president of the Centurion Society and president and past board member of the Pine Tree Hunt Club. He served as the Richland County chairman of the American Cancer Society for two years and was a former member of the Board of Directors of the Columbia Junior League Speech and Hearing Clinic. He was president of the Columbia Art Association (1948-49) when efforts to create the Columbia Museum of Art were undertaken. As the founding president of the Columbia Museum of Art, he served three terms and also served for ten years as chairman and member of the Columbia Museum of Art Commission. Mr. Hartness was a charter member of the Board of Governors and treasurer for 20 years of the Decorative Arts Trust, a national, non-profit organization headquartered in Philadelphia. Mr. Hartness and his wife founded the Decorative Arts and Architecture Symposium programs of the Columbia Museum of Art. Items from the Isola Sherrerd and George B. Hartness collection are now in the permanent collections of the Historic Columbia Foundation, the Orangeburg County Historical Society, the Columbia Museum of Art, the University of South Carolina School Of Music, Historic Brattonsville, and the South Carolina State Museum. Mr. Hartness authored the book By Ship, Wagon, and Foot to York County, S.C. In addition, he recorded his memories of many South Carolina activities in his 2004 publication of Gardens, Friends, and Prevarications of a South Carolinian. He was a member of the South Caroliniana Society, Orangeburg Historical Society, Society of the Cincinnati - North Carolina Chapter, The Thomas Taylor Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and a former member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Huguenot Society. Mr. Hartness is survived by his daughter, Isola Sherrerd Hartness, two grandsons, Blake Hartness Patterson, and Brooks Thomas Patterson. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by two beloved children, Carlotta Whitley Hartness and George Bowman Hartness Jr. Services are private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: The Coastal Conservation League, PO BOX 1765, Charleston, SC 29402 Or online: coastalconservationleague.org Condolences for the family may be left at www.woodridge-lexington.com