Services for Robert Watson Hearn, Jr. will be held at Christ Episcopal Church on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., with the Reverend Cynthia Knapp officiating. The family will greet friends for a reception in the Cloister Room following the service.
Robert “Bob” Watson Hearn, Jr., 86, died on December 2, 2024, in Macon, Georgia, after an extended illness. He was surrounded by his loving family: his wife, Bonnie; daughter, Beth; son, Steve; daughter-in-law, Jennifer; and two grandchildren, Emma and Zach. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 44 years and the mother of his children, Nancy Eugenia Greene, who died in 2005.
Bob was born in Macon on December 23, 1937, to the late Robert W. Hearn, Sr. and Madelyn Himbaugh Hearn. He attended public schools in Macon and graduated from Lanier Senior High School in 1956. He was a Cadet Colonel of the Junior ROTC Regiment, which was one of the largest such units in the country at the time. His brother, Holden C. West, was also Cadet Colonel in the early 1940s, which made them the only brothers to hold this position in Bibb County. Bob also served as President of the Senior Class as a Superlative and was the Valedictorian of the Senior class.
After attending the Georgia Institute of Technology for two years, he enrolled at Mercer University to begin his business career, while also working part time at Fickling & Walker, Inc. for his brother, Holden. He graduated magna cum laude from Mercer in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and German. While at Mercer, Bob served as president of Scabbard and Blade Honorary Military Fraternity and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He was also a member of Sigma Mu Honorary Academic Society. He was designated a Distinguished Military graduate in 1960.
Bob later became reacquainted with Bonnie Smith, who he had dated in college and who had lost her husband in 2005. After marrying, they enjoyed traveling, both nationally and internationally. They were privileged to visit many wonderful places in Europe and beyond. Bob enjoyed and loved Bonnie’s extended family, who accepted him wholeheartedly.
After a career of thirty-three years in mortgage banking, Bob retired in 1996 as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sun Trust Mortgage, Inc., one of the largest mortgage banking firms in the country at the time. Bob had previously been employed by Fickling & Walker, Inc., whose mortgage banking operations were purchased by the Trust Company of Georgia in 1979. He remained with the firm as it grew into Sun Trust Banks, Inc.
In 1979, Bob served as president of the Atlanta Mortgage Bankers Association. In 1982, he was elected President of Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia after being very active in all aspects of the association. In addition, he was active with the Mortgage Bankers Association of America through committee membership and as a lecturer at association meetings. In 1989, Bob was named Lender of the Year by Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia. In 1990 and 1991, he served on the advisory board of the Fannie Mae Southeastern Regional Office.
Bob was very active as a member of the First Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia until 1986, and then became an active member of Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta until 2004. He was the Sunday School Director at First Baptist and taught Sunday School to 10-year-old boys for five years. He also taught Sunday School at Wieuca to adults for fifteen years. He served on numerous committees through the years and as Chairman of the Personnel Committee in 1991, and the Missions Committee in 2000 at the Wieuca. While at Wieuca he was the church’s representative to the Buckhead Christian Ministry and served on the board of the non-profit organization.
In 2013, Bob was confirmed in the Episcopal Church and joined Christ Episcopal Church in Macon, where Bonnie Had been a faithful member for over thirty years. Bob served on the Outreach Committee for three years. He was a shepherd for Loaves and Fishes Ministry of Macon, representing Christ Church.
Bob served two terms as Trustee of Mercer University in 1977 and 1984. He was on the President’s Council of Mercer University in 1983. He was also the president of the Greater Atlanta Mercer Alumni Association in 1972. He was President of the Dekalb Alumni Association of SAE in 1968.
Bob served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962 as First Lieutenant and Executive Officer of Battery A, 517th Nike Hercules Guided Missile Battalion at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas. After receiving two letters of commendation from the Commanding General of the Region, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal by the Secretary of the Army in 1962.
Bob loved his family above all else. His greatest joy was to be with his family under any and all conditions, happy or sad. They will miss him all their lives. Bob was an accomplished man, warm and humble. He was inclusive and welcoming to all. His smile and handshake preceded a delightful and subtle sense of humor.
Bob is survived by his wife, Bonnie Johnson Smith Hearn; daughter, Elizabeth Shawn Hearn; son, Stephen Scott Hearn (Jennifer); grandchildren: Zachary Robert Hearn and Emma Hearn; and by his extended family: Brian Smith, Alex Smith (Kim), and Adam Smith (Katie); three step-grandchildren; and numerous nieces.
In addition to his parents and first wife, Bob was preceded in death by his brother, Holden C. West; and sisters, Raye Lane, Madeline Zollars, and Fosky Henderson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 582 Walnut St. Macon, GA 31201, or the American Cancer Society at AmericanCancerSociety/donate .
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/
American Cancer Society
P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown MD 21741
Tel:
1-800-227-2345
Web:
https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate.html
Christ Church
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