Olivyn Pearson Hardison

View Funeral Webcast Olivyn Pearson Hardison, aged 95 years, of Columbia, TN, passed away on Monday August 19, 2019. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Jerry Hill officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Friday from 1:00 P.M. until the time of the services at the funeral home. Mrs. Hardison was the 1942 valedictorian of Franklin High School. She received her bachelor of arts degree in chemistry, with training in medicine, from Vanderbilt University in 1946. After graduation, she was certified in the then-new profession of medical technologist, and she worked in that position at St. Thomas Hospital for three years. On April 2, 1948, she married Harold H Hardison, after he returned from serving in the China-Burma-India theatre during World War II and graduated from the University of Tennessee. While Mr. Hardison taught vocational agriculture to high school students, the family lived in Joelton, Eagleville, and Portland, TN, before settling in Columbia.  Mrs. Hardison began her second career teaching first grade in Portland. Afterward, she taught in the public schools of Maury County for 27 years at Spring Hill School, Central High School and at Whitthorne Junior High School. She completed a Master’s degree in Education from the Peabody College for Teachers in 1963. While teaching Biology at Central High School, she introduced courses designed by the Biological Sciences Curriculum Studies, which was an early effort to transform science education by focusing on an investigation-orientated, research perspective. She taught a wide diversity of other subjects, from mathematics to English and art appreciation. Mrs. Hardison was a faithful member of the Graymere Church of Christ for over 58 years (starting in 1961). Among her many activities were working in the Jail Ministry, the Meals Ministry and teaching Sunday School. She was a member of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America. She took many classes from specialists and attended several national conventions. Items from her extensive collection of work, including Japanese silk embroidery, black work, needlepoint samplers, and crewel have been displayed locally at Columbia State Community College and The Bridge. She continued to knit, making potholders as a fundraiser for Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch. Mrs. Hardison also participated actively in the Columbia Cosmopolitan Club. She is survived by her sons H. Huntley Hardison and wife Margaret Niven of Philadelphia, PA, Ross Hardison and wife Deborah of State College, PA, and Alan Hardison and wife Debra of Searcy AR; her grandchildren Nathan Hardison of Sioux Falls, SD, Aaron Hardison and wife Kassi of Harrisburg, SD, David Hardison and wife Allison of Alexandria, VA, Daniel Hardison and wife Amanda of Searcy, AR, Michael Hardison and wife Vanessa of Searcy, AR, Alexander Hardison of Lancaster, PA, and Rachel Hardison Bow and husband Vance Bow of Searcy, AR; great grandchildren, Jasmyne Hardison of Sioux Falls, SD, Jacob Hardison of Searcy, AR, Raleigh Hardison of Searcy, AR, and Ozark Bow of Searcy, AR. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Harold H Hardison on November 22, 2014, her parents Eugene Pearson and Ora Higginbottham Pearson, her brother Buford Pearson, and her sister Mary Gene Pearson Montgomery. Active pallbearers will include Aaron Hardison, David P. Hardison, Daniel Hardison, Michael Hardison, J. David Hardison, and Bill Motgomery. Honorary pallbearers will include Nathan Hardison and Alexander Hardison. The family prefers no flowers. Instead, please send donations to the Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch, 298 Middle Road, Riverhead NY 11901-2034. The URL is http://www.timothyhillranch.org. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.