Dr. John Thomas Harper Sr.

Dr. John T. Harper, Sr., a retired orthopedic surgeon who helped to break racial barriers at the Medical College of Georgia, died on April 2, 2016 due to complications related to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was 70 years-old. John Thomas Harper was born November 30, 1945 to the union of LueBirda and Johnnie Harper. He was the eldest of five children. As a young boy John worked hard on the farm and excelled in school having learned from his parents the importance of having a good work ethic. He graduated as the valedictorian from Hancock Central High School in 1963. After graduation, he attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia where he majored in biology and minored in chemistry. While taking a math class across the street at Spelman College he met his future wife, Agnes Louise Houston. During his sophomore year he pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. On June 10, 1967, ten days after having graduated college, John and Agnes were joined in Holy Matrimony. The newlyweds moved to Augusta, Georgia, where John had enrolled in medical school. In 1970 the couple had their first child, John, Jr. In 1971 along with his classmate, Dr. Frank Rumph, Dr. John T. Harper, Sr. became the first African-American to graduate from the Medical College of Georgia, School of Medicine. Upon graduation from medical school, Dr. Harper completed his internship and a year of general surgery residency at the Emory University Affiliated Hospitals. His medical training was then interrupted as he had been drafted into the military. He served his country as a Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. After concluding his service to his country, he returned to the Emory University Affiliated Hospitals to complete his training as an orthopedic surgeon and hand surgery specialist. Dr. Harper opened a private practice in 1979 and entered partnership with another physician shortly thereafter. It is the late Dr. Don A. Morris, with whom he practiced the longest. Dr. Harper provided excellent orthopedic care to patients performing surgeries primarily at Atlanta Medical Center, Crawford Long, and Rockdale Community Hospital where for a time he served as Chief of Staff. He retired from patient care in 2008. In addition to his being a dedicated physician, Dr. Harper was an outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and traveling. He treasured moments of peace while on the waters of the Georgia lakes or in the woods of Hancock County. Additionally, he marveled at the ocean and loved taking his family on cruises and vacations to Panama City Beach. While he considered himself a simple country boy, one of his personal goals was to travel the world. He has toured parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. His final trip was a also spiritual journey in which he traveled to the holy land of Israel. A loving and generous family man, Dr. Harper is preceded in death by his son, Jason. He is survived by his wife, Agnes; his son, John, Jr. (Tiya); his daughter Angela (Mario Mahome); his five grandchildren, Ashley, Jordyn, Lance, "Trey" and Jacen; his mother, LueBirda; his three sisters, Doris Mattison, Emma White, and Betty (Joseph Jones); his one brother, Louis (Betty); his three step-grandchildren, Gabby, Trinity and Carrington; and numerous other nieces, nephews relatives and friends. Celebration of Life Services will be held 11AM Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at Saints Peter and Paul Parish 2600 Tilson Rd Decatur, GA. Interment The Harper Family Cemetery 900 Hunts Chapel Rd. Sparta, GA. Visitation TUESDAY 10AM-8PM with Family Hour 7PM-8PM at our SOUTH DEKALB Chapel 4347 Flat Shoals Parkway Decatur, GA 30034 ( 404-241-5656).

Tributes

Dr. John Thomas Harper Sr.

November 30, 1945 - April 2, 2016