Dr. Charles Hyatt "Chuck" Richardson, Iii

Charles Hyatt “Chuck” Richardson III was born on May 23, 1943, the son of Dr Charles Hyatt Richardson, Jr and Milly Faxon Richardson, while his father was serving as a WWII surgeon in Italy and North Africa. During that time Chuck was lovingly cared for by his mother Milly and his Macon grandparents Dr. C. H. Richardson, Sr. and Anne Shaw Richardson. He met his dad two years later when the war ended. Also, during that time when he was a baby and his father was overseas, his mother Milly sang “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” to him, which morphed into the nickname “Bunny” during his growing up years in Macon.

Chuck graduated from Lanier High School in 1960 as a three-sport letterman, and though he loved all sports, baseball was his first love. He attended Vanderbilt University where he was president of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and played baseball. After going 8-0 freshman year as a pitcher and batting over .400, he told the coach he was transferring to a school with baseball scholarships. Ten minutes later he was the first scholarship baseball player at Vandy. Chuck forged deep friendships with several fraternity brothers, leading to 60 years of fishing trips and other adventures, shenanigans, and exploits.

After Vanderbilt, Chuck entered the Medical College of Georgia, and following graduation took a surgical internship and residency at Boston City Hospital (1970-72). Chuck then served two years in the US Navy as a base doctor in Albany, GA (1972-74). Following his time in the Navy, Chuck was accepted to an elite Orthopaedic residency program at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore where he spent three years training under some of the nation’s best orthopaedic surgeons (top five world ranked program). In 1977, Chuck moved back to his hometown of Macon to start his surgical practice, which he continued for nearly 50 years, retiring in 2022. Chuck grew up attending Christ Episcopal Church, where he served as an acolyte and later continued as a lifetime member.

Chuck is survived by his sisters and brother Laurie Richardson (Ken Maddox), Silver Spring, MD, Catherine “Taffy” Noble (Doug), Jacksonville, FL, and Thomas “Tom” Richardson (Mary Anne), as well as his six children - Adam (Heather), Ben, Charlie (Cheryl), Stewart (Katie), Milly (Justin) and BB (Jeff), and a host of loving cousins, nieces and nephews. There will be a memorial service celebrating his life on Friday, September 13 at 11 AM at Christ Episcopal Church, followed by a reception in the Great Hall at the church.

A few defining traits of his legacy worth celebrating:

Chuck was HARD WORKING.

His first summer job at 16 years old was working as an orderly at Medical Center of Central GA, 3-11 shift for 56 cents an hour after taxes. During medical school, he worked for another surgeon doing rounds for him, worked as an all-night sitter for critically ill patients, and gave blood for extra money. At multiple points in his career, he was on call every other night. While doctors are often viewed through the lens of their incomes, we saw another side - the amounts of blood, sweat and tears required to care well for others. The countless decisions - to keep going when it was hard, to lean in when you were tired, to learn a new procedure or tool, and to stay in the game till people were healed no matter what - this was Dad.

Chuck was GENEROUS.

He covered high school football games pro bono. He would do sports physicals for local schools at no expense. He volunteered in the local children’s clinic. He was an assistant Scoutmaster for several years. He was a volunteer assistant professor at Mercer Medical School for third year students, just for the love of mentoring young doctors. He coached little league and softball for eight years - and especially loved coaching 9-10 year olds because they were “old enough to learn, but young enough to not have bad habits or attitudes.” He often cancelled charges for patients or took house calls to reduce their costs. He was always happy to pause and take seriously the request to “look at my knee.” He kept sutures in his glove box in case anyone would need emergency stitches.

Chuck was OLD SCHOOL.

And if anyone ever needed those stitches, no numbing meds - just sit still! His favorite medical diagnosis - “You’ll be fine.” Got hurt in a game? “Walk it off.” “Take some ibuprofen and rest it a couple days. Then get back to it.” Once the star player of our soccer team sprained his ankle the week of the state tournament. The other dad asked, “can he play?” Dad answered, “Of course he can play.” “But you haven’t looked at him yet.” “Yeah, but the state game is in three days. He’ll play.” And he did. Dad never helped us with anything we could or should do for ourselves. If we brought him a problem, his answer was, “I’m interested to see how you’ll handle that.” And we did. And we were more surprised than he was. And we became more confident and capable because of it.

Chuck LOVED SPORTS

He raised us “tween the hedges,” pulling for the Dawgs. He was an all-state football and baseball player in high school, and scholarship baseball player at Vandy. He played semi-pro baseball in college until his coach said to him, “Professional athletes are one injury away from never playing again - if you can do anything else, you should.” Then his coach cut him off from professional scouts, so became a sports doctor. He was the team doctor for the Macon Peaches and Redbirds and Pirates and Braves, attending spring training several years as a physician for the Braves. Before fancy flatscreen TVs, for new year bowl games we would gather 3 or 4 “box” TVs in the living room to not miss a game. He loved the nuances of sports - that a 2-2 count in baseball is very different from a 1-2 count or a 3-2 count, and how it impacts the way every player on the field is thinking about the game. All true sports fans will appreciate this fanaticism for the details and nuances.

Chuck LOVED PEOPLE (down deep)

While affectionately known as the “Curmudgeon” around the hospital for his grumpy demeanor, he was really a softie at heart (he would deny this). He loved to pull for, help, heal, coach or otherwise boost the underdog. He was ahead of his time in treating all people of all races and social levels with equal respect and honor, and both modeled and expected his children to do the same. He revered the aged. Was tender with the young. But he did NOT put up with whining or self-pity or “prima donnas” who expected special treatment. No way. You shut up and get it done. He was all guts and grit. Guts to try hard things, and grit to see them through. He would cheer for you, coach you up, and then celebrate with you when it paid off. Got hurt? Walk it off.

Chuck was a QUIET ACHIEVER

Teddy Roosevelt taught us to “speak softly and carry a big stick” meaning be strong and modest. Dad was very accomplished - but you would never know it. And he NEVER thought he was any better or deserved any preferential treatment for his massive education and accomplishments. In spite of being a D1 scholarship athlete, military veteran and Hopkins trained Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, he never ceased to give himself fully and equally to all people around him - big or small.

This was his legacy.

Chuck was a beloved brother and father and grandfather, boss and colleague, coach and mentor, and will be missed by so many.

May his legacy live on among us!

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s at the Cupola, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 6324 Peake Rd, Macon, GA 31210 has charge of the arrangements.

Christ Church
582 Walnut St., Macon GA 31201
Web: http://www.christchurchmacon.com/