Myra in her years after college started painting. She graduated from Auburn University in 1962. She was a charter member and former executive director of PACT. She led the efforts to create the ALABAMA CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND, carving out a prominent place in Montgomery for this innovative new state agency, which has provided millions of dollars for local child abuse prevention efforts since 1984. Myra continued her dedication to helping children after moving to Tennessee. As a volunteer for the Tennessee Department of Human Services Prevention Program. Myra was instrumental in securing funds from the Tennessee Legislature for all child advocacy groups in Tennessee. She was also a member of the National Committee for child abuse and the Child Advocacy Center of Memphis. She was a member of the Junior League of Morgan County and the Decatur General Foundation Guild.
I REMEMBER MYRA WHEN WE WERE IN FIRST WARD AND WEST DECATUR SCHOOL TOGETHER. HER PARENTS OWNED A NURSERY ON DANVILLE ROAD SW.I USED TO GO TO MYRA'S TO PLAY AND SPEND THE NIGHT. ONE DAY HER MOM PLACED A BED MATTRESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS TO SUN. MYRA AND I WERE HAVING LOADS OF FUN TRYING TO SEE WHO COULD JUMP OFF OF THE MOST STAIRS AND LAND ON THAT MATTRESS. IT WAS FUN UNTIL I GOT TO A STEP HIGHER THAN HER, JUMPED AND HIT THE MATTRESS.WHEN I CAME TO, MYRA AND HER MOM WERE STANDING OVER ME. WE WEREN'T CLOSE FRIENDS IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET HER OR THAT MATTRESS. DOUGLAS ANN LIVINGSTON
Funeral for Myra Johnson Harding, 63, formerly of Decatur, will be Thursday, May 20, 2004, at 2:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Decatur with the Rev. Buddy Champion officiating and Roselawn Funeral Home directing.
Burial will be in Decatur City Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the church.
Mrs. Harding died Tuesday, May 18, 2004, at her residence. She was born Jan. 10, 1941, in Decatur to Howard Johnson and Della Mae Justice Johnson. Myra was a graduate of Decatur High School and Auburn University. She was a charter member and former executive director of PACT. She led the efforts to create the Alabama Children’s Trust Fund which was only the eleventh such fund established in this country. Myra served as the first executive director of the Alabama Children’s Trust Fund, carving out a prominent place in Montgomery for this innovative new state agency, which has provided millions of dollars for local child abuse prevention efforts since 1984. Myra continued her dedication to helping children after moving to Tennessee. As a volunteer for the Tennessee Department of Human Services Prevention Program, Myra was instrumental in securing funds from the Tennessee Legislature for all child advocacy groups in Tennessee. She was also a member of the National Committee for Child Abuse and the Child Advocacy Center of Memphis. She was a member of the Junior League of Morgan County and the Decatur General Foundation Guild. She was preceded in death by a son, Todd Hayden Schmidbauer.
Survivors include her husband, Gilbert Harding; one son, Rodney Schmidbauer and wife Lisa of Decatur; one daughter, Lisa Fisher and husband Bryant of Decatur; three stepchildren, Malinda Williamson and husband Gary of Memphis, Randy Harding and wife Stacy of Yellville, Ark., and Jeffrey Harding and wife Waverly of Powder Springs, Ga.; five grandchildren, Justin Harding and Keely Harding, both of Powder Springs, Cade Harding and Heath Harding, both of Yellville, and Hayden Fisher of Decatur; two brothers, Johnny Johnson and wife Becky and Duggie Johnson, all of Decatur; and one sister, Diane Wright of Decatur.
Douglas Ann Thrasher (Livingston . )
I REMEMBER MYRA WHEN WE WERE IN FIRST WARD AND WEST DECATUR SCHOOL TOGETHER. HER PARENTS OWNED A NURSERY ON DANVILLE ROAD SW.I USED TO GO TO MYRA'S TO PLAY AND SPEND THE NIGHT. ONE DAY HER MOM PLACED A BED MATTRESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS TO SUN. MYRA AND I WERE HAVING LOADS OF FUN TRYING TO SEE WHO COULD JUMP OFF OF THE MOST STAIRS AND LAND ON THAT MATTRESS. IT WAS FUN UNTIL I GOT TO A STEP HIGHER THAN HER, JUMPED AND HIT THE MATTRESS.WHEN I CAME TO, MYRA AND HER MOM WERE STANDING OVER ME. WE WEREN'T CLOSE FRIENDS IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET HER OR THAT MATTRESS.
DOUGLAS ANN LIVINGSTON
Bob Thomas
Funeral for Myra Johnson Harding, 63, formerly of Decatur, will be Thursday, May 20, 2004, at 2:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Decatur with the Rev. Buddy Champion officiating and Roselawn Funeral Home directing.
Burial will be in Decatur City Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the church.
Mrs. Harding died Tuesday, May 18, 2004, at her residence. She was born Jan. 10, 1941, in Decatur to Howard Johnson and Della Mae Justice Johnson. Myra was a graduate of Decatur High School and Auburn University. She was a charter member and former executive director of PACT. She led the efforts to create the Alabama Children’s Trust Fund which was only the eleventh such fund established in this country. Myra served as the first executive director of the Alabama Children’s Trust Fund, carving out a prominent place in Montgomery for this innovative new state agency, which has provided millions of dollars for local child abuse prevention efforts since 1984. Myra continued her dedication to helping children after moving to Tennessee. As a volunteer for the Tennessee Department of Human Services Prevention Program, Myra was instrumental in securing funds from the Tennessee Legislature for all child advocacy groups in Tennessee. She was also a member of the National Committee for Child Abuse and the Child Advocacy Center of Memphis. She was a member of the Junior League of Morgan County and the Decatur General Foundation Guild. She was preceded in death by a son, Todd Hayden Schmidbauer.
Survivors include her husband, Gilbert Harding; one son, Rodney Schmidbauer and wife Lisa of Decatur; one daughter, Lisa Fisher and husband Bryant of Decatur; three stepchildren, Malinda Williamson and husband Gary of Memphis, Randy Harding and wife Stacy of Yellville, Ark., and Jeffrey Harding and wife Waverly of Powder Springs, Ga.; five grandchildren, Justin Harding and Keely Harding, both of Powder Springs, Cade Harding and Heath Harding, both of Yellville, and Hayden Fisher of Decatur; two brothers, Johnny Johnson and wife Becky and Duggie Johnson, all of Decatur; and one sister, Diane Wright of Decatur.