Harriette Stone Hesse

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - Mrs. Harriette Hesse (Clark, Stone) passed away in her sleep May10, 2011.
A life-long resident of Savannah, Georgia, Harriette was born of strong "cracker stock" and spent her formative years in Ways Station, Georgia (later became known as Richmond Hill). Her great grandfather, Charles Hopkins, came to America in 1842 and settled in Savannah in 1844, later marrying Miss Phoebe Cooney.  After the death of her father, Martin Clark, the family moved to Ways Station (Richmond Hill) from Orlando, Florida where her parents went to homestead after WWI. Her mother, Constance Hopkins Clark, served as a nurse at the Ford Clinic under the watchful eye of Mr. Henry Ford. As children, Harriette and her sister, Peggy, were escorted on a trip to Greenfield Village, Michigan by Mr. Ford. During the Depression years, Harriette lived in the Henry and Jefferson Streets area near her extended family of five aunts, one uncle and thirty-five cousins, where "if it wasn't for Aunt Rosa Cetchovich, we would've all starved to death."  She graduated from Ways Station High School in 1937 and later earned a nursing certificate. In 1940, Harriette was chosen as Queen of the Paper Festival and represented South Georgia at the Azalea Festival in Charleston, SC. In 1941, Harriette married Maurice M. Stone whom she met in Savannah while his Father, R.M. Stone was Superintendent of the Seaboard Railroad. She and Maurice spent the war years in Savannah, Pensacola, Fl. and San Diego, Ca. while he trained as a Naval Aviator at the advent of WWII.  Maurice went on to serve as a Squadron Commander aboard the USS Bunker Hill, surviving two Kamikaze attacks. Harriette had four grand years as a Naval Wife until Maurice was killed in October 1945,one day short of their fourth anniversary. Later, Harriette and her three sons moved to Savannah where she worked as Dental Hygienist for the VA and later for the Red Cross. In 1963, Harriette helped "open the doors" of Memorial Medical Center where she was Director of Volunteer Services.  She later became President of the Georgia Hospital Volunteers and President of the American Hospital Volunteers Association. In 1962, Harriette married Dr. John W. (Tim) Hesse, Jr. the first Savannah Dentist to volunteer for WWII. They spent many great years on Wilmington Island overlooking the Wilmington River. There they enjoyed all the amenities of Wilmington Island life until Tim passed on in 1976. Harriette moved to "town" and retired from Memorial Hospital in 1980. She was a proud member of the Savannah Area Republican Women and served as president of the Georgia Federation of Republican Women. In the early years of the SARW there were so few women involved in the party, she would hold meetings in her car. She was honored by the party in 1999 as Volunteer of the Year. She was active on the Coastal Council on Aging, the Red Cross, the Little Theatre, the Greenbriar Home, the Salvation Army and St. Paul's Episcopal Church. She took several trips to Washington, D.C. with Sister Mary Cornile of St. Joseph's Hospital to lobby for hospital funding. She and her sister, Peggy were avid fans of the Georgia Bulldogs, always heading up the tailgating on Baxter Hill. She loved the Atlanta Braves, Miller Lite, Oreo cookies and okra with tomatoes. She loved fashion and the way a new pair of shoes could brighten the day. She loved a good laugh and gathering with her cousins for their joint birthdays in May, where they played very competitive games of Yatzee and poker. Harriette is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved sister and best friend, Peggy Morgan and brother-in-law, Arthur Morgan.
Harriette is survived by her sons Michael, John and Robert Stone, eight grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren, her dear cousins Betty Ford and Eugenia White, other extended family in Jacksonville, Florida, and life-long friend Julia Witt of Tybee Island.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 14; 4pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church 1802 Abercorn Street Savannah, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation to one of the aforementioned charities or one of your choice.