It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Jeffery Michael Hardwick, of Phenix City, Alabama on February 8, 2023 at the age of 62.

He was born May 29, 1960 in Columbus, Georgia to Bill and Barbra Hardwick. After a long and
courageous battle with cancer, his final days were spent surrounded by family and friends that he had touched in some way throughout his very memorable life.

Jeff was a solid pillar in the lives of all who knew him. His quick witted and creative humor made all those close enough to hear it, laugh. Jeff spent his formative years doing many of the things you might expect someone from the south to have an interest in. He would hunt, fish, and ride anything with a motor and handlebars. It was in high school he would meet his future wife, Michelle, of which the two would be married for 40 years. Underneath his stoic exterior was a truly kindhearted man capable of great love and compassion.

Whether it was going out of his way to make sure he never missed his son’s baseball games, or making sure he had enough ice cream left for his favorite cat “Mr. Miyagi” to have a sweet treat at the end of the night. He was just as comfortable in a deer stand on a cold winter morning as he was at the river catching catfish on a hot summer day. There was hardly a Sunday afternoon you couldn’t find him indulging more of his greatest passions, watching a race, an old Godzilla or James Bond movie and napping.

Ever the beach bum, he would spend many of his vacation days in Florida with the family watching the waves roll in during the day and making his mouth-watering steaks by night. He would brag to anyone who would listen about his son jumping out of planes in the Marine Corps. Though his time with us may have been shorter than we would have liked, his memory, love, and the lessons he taught us will stay with us forever.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Barbra Hardwick, mother-in-law Janie Kapelka, sister-in-law Sherri Christenson and brother-in-law, Jerry Christenson.

He is survived by his father, Bill Hardwick (Joyce) of Midland, GA, wife, Michelle Hardwick of Phenix City, AL, son, Evan Hardwick (Morganne) of Phenix City, AL, brother, Chris Hardwick (Bettina), step-brothers; Steve Flatt of Columbus, GA, Christopher Flatt (Morris Smith) of Columbus, GA , niece and nephews; Luke Hardwick of Columbus, GA, Aaron Hardwick of Columbus, GA, Abby Hardwick of Columbus, GA, cousins; Brandon Shimizu of Columbus, GA, Cheryl Fisher of Murfreesboro, TN, Heather Blackburn of Smyrna, TN, father-in-law, Lester Kapelka, sisters-in-law; Deena Griffith (Sanders) of Columbus, GA Leslie Gosch (Peter) of Columbus, GA, nieces and nephews; Christopher Lee of Columbus, GA, Jason Lee
(Amanda) of Columbus, GA, Autumn Walker (Stephan) of Albany, GA, Avery Seckinger (Sophia) of Atlanta, GA, April Christenson of Columbus, GA, and Lance Christenson (Stephanie) of Ellerslie, GA.

Memorial services will be 3:00 pm, Friday, February 17, 2023 at Britt David Baptist Church, 2801 West Britt David Road, Columbus, GA 31909.

The family is being assisted by Georgia Cremation, of Columbus, Georgia.