Hilliard Rhodes Jordan Sr. (October 16, 1918 – March 25, 1993)

February 19th, 2015 Leave a comment Go to comments
Hilliard Jordan

Hilliard Jordan

Hilliard Jordan

Hilliard Jordan

H. Rhodes Jordan Sr., ex-mayor, longtime lawyer in Gwinnett

The funeral for H. Rhodes Jordan Sr. of Lawrenceville, a lawyer and former eight-term Lawrenceville mayor, will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville with burial in Gwinnett Memorial Park.

Mr. Jordan died of an apparent heart attack Thursday at his home. He was 74.

The oldest practicing lawyer in Gwinnett County, he worked at his office Wednesday on some probate matters, attended a Wednesday night meeting at his church and died in his sleep, a relative said.

Mr. Jordan was senior partner in the Lawrenceville firm of Jordan & Jordan and had been a lawyer in the city for 52 years, since January 1941, with time out for service in World War II.

He served eight two-year terms as Lawrenceville mayor, in 1962-68, 1974-78, 1980-84 and 1986-88.

“He had some political losses, but he was always gentlemanly when the losses occurred,” a relative recalled.

Mr. Jordan represented Gwinnett County in the state House of Representatives in 1947 and 1953-54.

Hilliard Rhodes Jordan was born Oct. 16, 1918, in Lawrenceville. His paternal grandfather and father were Lawrenceville City Council members.

Mr. Jordan attended Emory University, graduated from Atlanta Law School and served in the Navy during World War II.

He belonged to the Gwinnett County Bar Association, State Bar of Georgia, American Legion, Kiwanis and Masons, and was a Sunday school teacher and deacon at First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville.

Surviving are a son, Hill R. Jordan Jr. of Lawrenceville; two daughters, Judy Johnson of Lawrenceville and June Franklin of Birmingham; two sisters, Barbara Sorrells of Charlotte and Mary Lee Thomason of Toccoa; and four grandchildren.

Hilliard Jordan’s obituary appeared in the March 28, 1993 edition of the Gwinnett (GA) Post-Tribune:

JORDAN

H. Rhodes Jordan, Sr., 74, of Lawrenceville died Thursday, March 25, 1993. He is survived by his son, Hill Jordan Jr. of Lawrenceville, his two daughters, Judy Johnson of Lawrenceville and June Franklin of Birmingham, AL; four grandchildren, Allison Jordan and Emily Jordan, both of Lawrenceville, and Stephen Franklin and Kelley Franklin, both of Birmingham, AL; two sisters, Barbara Sorrells of Charlotte, NC and Mary Lee Thomason of Toccoa; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins. Mr. Jordan, a native of Lawrenceville, was an attorney in Lawrenceville, served in the State House of Representatives and was Mayor of Lawrenceville for 16 years. He was the senior member of the Gwinnett County Bar Association, an active member of the Lawrenceville Kiwanis Club, and a member of the Board of Directors of Brand Banking Company. He was a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville and was the youngest deacon ever elected at the church. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 27, at the First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville with Dr. R. Page Fulgham and Rev. Larry W. Wynn officiating. Burial followed in Gwinnett Memorial Park. Those desiring may make donations to a charity of personal choice in Memory of Mr. H. Rhodes Jordan, Sr. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, Inc., Lawrenceville, was in charge of arrangements.

Many thanks to Hilliard’s daughter, Mayor Judy Johnson, and Wanda Phillips for providing the above photos and obituaries.

Hilliard Jordan Grave Marker

Hilliard Sr. and Willela Jordan Grave Marker
Hilliard Jordan Military Grave Marker

Hilliard Jordan Sr. Military Grave Marker

Many thanks to K for submitting the above photo to Find A Grave.

FLOT/USS LCI(L)-11 Crew

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