Walter James Gordon, Sr. was born March 6, 1950 to Elaine Marett Gordon and John Lambert Gordon, Sr.
A life-long resident of Hart County, Walter graduated from Hart County High School in 1968, where he was a critical member of the storied Debate Team known throughout the state for its many tournament wins. He was named STAR student and graduated from high school with honors.
Throughout his life he has been recognized as an extraordinary public speaker. His talents were spotted early on when he was asked to host a rock-n-roll music radio show on Hartwell’s WKLY at the age of fifteen. His Sunday afternoon shows became known as “The Willie G. Show”, which earned him the nickname of Willie G.
Having won a Barkley Forum Debate Scholarship to Emory University, he became part of Emory’s elite debate program where his oratorical and reasoning skills further developed. At Emory, he was a member of DVS, a seven-member, senior honor society.
After graduating from Emory with honors, Walter became active in Democratic politics and served as press secretary for Zell Miller’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor. Later on Governor Miller would make two special appointments for his dear friend. The most prestigious was naming Walter to the Stone Mountain Memorial Association where he served on the board of directors for over a decade, but the more distinguished honor came as Walter was able to join his father in receiving the title Admiral of the Georgia Navy.
After college Walter attended Antioch School of Law and graduated in1976 before returning to his hometown as a solo practitioner opening his office in the building his father had owned for many years. Antioch School of Law was located in Washington D.C. and was founded for the purpose of training trial lawyers committed to justice and equality for all. Walter retained those ideals in his practice of local government law, general civil litigation, real estate and personal injury matters. He was admitted to practice before the Superior Courts of the Northern Judicial Circuit, Georgia Court of Appeals, GeorgiaSupreme Court, United States District Court (Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia), U.S. Court of Appeals (11th Circuit), and the United States Supreme Court.
Walter remained in practice at the same location in downtown Hartwell for over 47years, progressing from a solo practice to building a multi-staffed, bustling practice of lawyers, paralegals, and administrative staff. He loved his practice and the people who worked there. Walter served as County Attorney for the Hart County Board of Commissioners for more than 30 years and was recognized as one of the longest serving attorneys with the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia.
Walter was listed in the Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers, and his Bar and practice activities included: Georgia EMC Counsel Association Charter Member (1990-present) and State President (1993-1994); County Attorney for Hart County, Georgia (1980-1984, 1990-Present); State President, County Attorney Section, Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (1997-1998); served on many boards and committees of the State Bar of Georgia. He was proud to serve as a trustee of the Georgia Legal History Foundation (1995-2023); and Northern Judicial Circuit Public Defender Program Governing Committee (1981-1984; 1989-Present).
The Hart County community was near and dear to his heart and Walter often performed legal services free of charge to churches and non-profits. Walter was Legal Counsel for Habitat for Humanity from 1992 through the present and performed the closing for every Habitat for Humanity house built in Hart County. In addition to the pro bono services he provided to the community he was instrumental in helping to create the first public defender program in Hart County. Additionally he served on the founding board of Hart County Community Theatre (1979) where he loved to take the stage especially for his yearly reading of the Night Before Christmas, as well as a founding member of the Northview Cemetery (1994-2023). He was a devoted member of the Hartwell Rotary Club who served the club in many roles including leading a group of young leaders on a tour of Australia in 2000.
As a lifelong member of the Hartwell First Baptist Church, he served in various capacities ranging from deacon to Sunday School teacher. He was awarded one of the “Five Outstanding Young Men in Georgia” recognitions in 1980 and received the Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service in 1998. The Hart County Chamber of Commerce honored Walter with a Life Time Achievement Award. Only three weeks before his death, Walter emceed the Community Chorus patriotic presentation at Hartwell’s Episcopalian Church giving the community one last oration.
In these last few years Walter further pursued his passion for music by becoming a founder and part owner of the High Cotton Music Hall. He delighted not only in bringing nationally acclaimed musicians to Hartwell, but also in taking the opportunity to befriend the musicians that came to play. But most of all Walter loved to find the spotlight whether on the High Cotton stage, a hotel lobby, or the deck of a cruise ship. Ever since Walter learned to play the harmonica he has carried at least one on his person at all times and was immensely delighted whenever he was asked to play along.
Walter was beloved by many people in the community and beyond evidenced by his younger sister Elaine’s fairly routine commutes from Washington, DC and North Carolina to visit with him during their law careers as well as by Walter’s older brother, John, of Perth, Australia, who along with his wife and daughter carefully planned trips to Hartwell to let him know that he was truly loved around the world.
Surviving family members include Wife, Pam Gordon, sons, Daniel Harry Gordon (Paige) and Walter James Gordon, Jr. (Lacey), Brother John Lambert Gordon, Jr., (Candy) Sister Elaine Marett Gordon (Robert M. Hurley); grandchildren Mary Charlotte Gordon, Graham Gordon, Harry Gordon, Walter Gordon, Stevie Gordon; Niece Jessie Gordon of Perth Australia.
The family will receive friends Saturday, July 29, 2023 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell.
A service to celebrate the life of Mr. Walter Gordon will be Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Hartwell with Mrs. Kim W. Higginbotham, Rev. Carter Tucker, Dr. Stuart Lang, Dr. Allen Stewart and Dr. Hugh Kirby officiating. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. Mr. Gordon will be cremated following the service and his ashes will be placed in the Gordon Family Plot at the Northview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers; memorials may be made to the Hart County Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 146, Hartwell, GA 30643, Northview Cemetery Association, PO Box 671, Hartwell GA 30643, Hart County Community Theater, 83, Depot Street, Hartwell GA 30643 or to the Friends of the Hart County Library, 150 Benson Street, Hartwell GA 30643.
The Strickland Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hartwell is in charge of all arrangements.
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