TIFTON - Harmon Crum "H.C." Medford, 97, of Tifton, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015, at his home. His funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the sanctuary of Tifton's First Baptist Church with Dr. Wayne Roe and the Rev. Paul Thomas officiating. Mr. Medford will be laid to rest at Oakridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Greg Crumbley, Bob Lee, Terrell Rutland, Nick Tucker, Rodney Griffin and Walter Stephens will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Olin Hargrove, Frank McGill, Haywood Neal, Ralph Rigdon, James Montgomery, Charles Graham, the Rev. Robert Thompson and George Branch, deacons of Tifton's First Baptist Church and members of the Tifton Kiwanis Club. Born Nov. 25, 1918 in Cook County, Mr. Medford was the son of the late George Grady Medford Sr. and Mary Ann Baker Medford. He was also preceded in death by a brother, George Grady Medford Jr., and two sisters, Mary Jo Garvey and infant Nellie Irene Medford. He loved the Lord, his family and the land. Mr. Medford lived most of his life in Tift County and was a retired farmer. After his retirement, he grew peaches as a hobby. He attended school in Eldorado and later graduated from Tifton High School, where he played basketball and was a stand-out, due to his left-handed shots. He attended Middle Georgia College, where he played football and basketball. After transferring to Abraham Baldwin College, Mr. Medford was popular, due to owning an automobile where everyone wanted to hitch a ride into town. He continued his education at Georgia Business School in Macon, before enlisting in the United States Army as World War II was breaking out. He was sent to Benjamin Harrison Finance School, where he received training as part of the 81st Division. As sergeant, Mr. Medford was sent to the Pacific theatre and rose to the rank of first lieutenant as assistant disbursing officer for the division. He served for five years, remaining after the end of the war to help with closing the operation. Upon returning home in late 1946, he returned to the family business of farming. Mr. Medford served as a deacon of Tifton's First Baptist Church and was selected lifetime deacon. He taught the seventh grade boys Sunday school and later, the Adult Men's class. He served on the Board of Family and Children's Services for 50 years, with a great concern for the children of this area. He was a member of the Tifton Kiwanis Club and awarded the Distinguished Hixon Award for Outstanding Service and held the perfect attendance award. Mr. Medford was instrumental in the founding of Tiftarea Academy, of which it was his suggestion to name the school. He also served on the governing board for several years. He is survived by his wife, Jean Colley Medford, to whom he was married for 66 years; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Beth Medford-Rhymes and husband Tom of Fernandina Beach, Florida, Jan Medford Johnson of Dahlonega and Lynn Medford McDonald and husband William of Tifton; five grandchildren, Milton Johnson and wife Leslie of Tifton, Celeste Johnson of Atlanta, Jonathan Rhymes of Brooklyn, New York, Medford McDonald of Tifton and Miles McDonald of Athens; a sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and Bob Burnett of Tifton; and many nieces and nephews who loved and adored him. The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice of Tift Area, especially Mamie, Tracy, Jill and Kristy and the kindness of his sitters, Rosemary and Angela.