George Hartsfield, age 79, of Jefferson City passed away peacefully in Bonita Springs, FL, Sunday, April 9, 2023, (Easter morning) after a short, intense illness.
He was born May 17, 1943, in Blytheville, Arkansas, the eighth child of Clayton and Mamie (Lawfield) Hartsfield.
He graduated from Malden High School, located in Dunklin County, MO, in 1961. George graduated Magna Cum Laude from Southeast Missouri State University in 1965 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with majors in History and Political Science.
On May 1, 1982, he was united in marriage to Paula Kindrick, who survives at the home. George spent the first twenty-five years of his career in several management positions in the telephone industry, beginning as a management trainee with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1965. During the last eighteen years of his career, he served as president/CEO of the Jefferson City Area YMCA. He was honored in 2021 to have the west YMCA facility named the Hartsfield YMCA.
George was active in community affairs most of his adult life. He was a Rotarian for 48 years. George served on numerous boards and committees, serving as president or treasurer of several. He enjoyed politics and served as a member of the city council from 1977 until 1979. From 1979 until 1987 he served as mayor of Jefferson City. City government honored him in 1994 by naming a major section of Route 179 Hartsfield Boulevard. During his retirement years he enjoyed traveling, reading, gardening, volunteering, and spending time with his grandchildren. He especially enjoyed conducting tours at the Harry S Truman National Historic Site in Independence and Grandview, Missouri and the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park in Johnson City, Texas. He also volunteered at four other national parks.
On several occasions George was involved in public service beyond the local level. He served as President of the Missouri Municipal League, Director of the Missouri Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), member of the Community Development Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Commissioner of the Missouri Gaming Commission, Grace Church delegate to the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, member of Rotary District 6080 Group Study Exchange Committee, Director for the Great Rivers Council (BSA), member of the YMCA State Public Policy Committee, and chair of the Workforce Preparedness Taskforce at Southeast Missouri State University.
George is survived by: wife, Paula Kindrick Hartsfield of Jefferson City, MO; daughter, Stacy Hartsfield; son-in-law, Curt Buhr; grandson, Parker Buhr; and granddaughter, Avery Buhr, all of West Des Moines, Iowa; sisters, Mary Timmer of Eldon, MO; Joann McCurter of Bernie, MO; Betty Stegall of Dexter, MO; sisters-in-law, Gladys Hartsfield and Norma Hartsfield, both of Malden, MO; and twelve nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Alvis, Bobbie, Alton, and Calvin Hartsfield.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 19, 2023, at Grace Episcopal Church 217 Adams Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101. To aide in parking and see available parking for George's visitation around the church, please click this
diagram.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Grace Episcopal Church beginning at 3:00 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Marshall Crossnoe officiating and Rev. Bill Nesbitt assisting. An inurnment service with the family will be held at the Mausoleum of Riverview Cemetery earlier that day.
A webcast of George’s service will begin at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2023 for friends that are not able to attend by going to
Grace Episcopal Church’s Facebook page .
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jefferson City YMCA Outreach Fund or to the Common Ground Benevolence Fund by mailing all donations to P.O. Box 95, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison St, Jefferson City, MO 65101.