Vernon Nathaniel Hansford

Vernon Nathaniel Hansford (Nat) passed away peacefully on March 4, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was born on October 16, 1943, the youngest of three children, and spent most of his childhood in Crawford, GA. It was here that he developed a love for his family history, history, and education. Oglethorpe County and his family provided him with roots and stability that would shape his life.

Nat is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Frances Fincher, and their children: Nathaniel Fincher (Nate), Mary Frances Stokely Hansford Kiffmeyer (Mary Frances), her husband John Ralph (John), and two grandchildren, Frances Delphia (Frances) and Hansi Rafe Hansford (Hansi). He was preceded in death by his parents, Bradley Richard Sr. (B.R.) and Ernestine Stokely (Teedye) Hansford, as well as his sister, Sally Ann Wadsworth, and his brother, Bradley Richard Jr. (Dickie).

He followed his love of education to the University of Georgia, where he never missed a class because, as he said, “he didn’t know he could.” He earned his BS Ed. degree (cum laude) in 1965 and his law degree in 1968, both from the University of Georgia. He was a member of many academic organizations and honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa and Gridiron.

In 1969, while clerking for the Honorable Judge Lewis R. Morgan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, he met Frances. They married in September 1970. Nat served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) as a captain, including one year stationed in Korea. He continued his military career in the Army Reserves for 20 years, retiring at the rank of Colonel. After his military service, he practiced law in Dalton, GA, with Mitchell, Mitchell, Coppedge, and Boyette Law Firm, before joining the faculty at the University of Alabama Law School in 1975, where he discovered his passion for teaching. He earned his LLM degree in 1980 from the University of Michigan Law School.

At the University of Alabama, Nat served as Dean of the Law School from 1986 to 1993 and was a member of the Law faculty from 1975 to 1999. He was named the Rose Professor of Law and was also a visiting professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the University of Georgia School of Law, and the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. His passion for teaching earned him the University of Alabama National Alumni Association's Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award in 1982. He authored three books and numerous law review articles.

In 1999, Nat was appointed President of North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, a position he held until his retirement. His leadership and military background made him an ideal fit for the university.

Nat served on the Board of Directors of Cohutta Banking Company of Chatsworth, GA, for 38 years and the Board of Directors of Synovus Financial Corp. of Columbus, GA, for 30 years.

Nat was deeply involved in historic preservation and community service. He served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and was later named Trustee Emeritus. He served for several years on the board of Historic Oglethorpe, the local historical society. His love for history and preservation extended to his personal life, as he and Frances restored a family home built in 1812 in Lexington, Oglethorpe County.

Nat was an active member of Forest Lake Methodist Church in Tuscaloosa, serving as chairman of the finance committee for many years and teaching Sunday school classes. He and Frances were members of Methodist churches in the towns where they lived over the years. He was most recently an active member of Ashford Memorial Methodist Church in Watkinsville. Nat’s faith was integral to his life; he led with guidance and demonstrated true Christian character.

Nat enjoyed traveling with his family, taking them on trips and encouraging a meaningful and fulfilling life. He and Frances could be seen daily taking walks in every neighborhood where they lived, which he often said was his favorite activity. As a loving grandfather, he was always eager to spend time with his grandchildren, who added a unique sparkle to his eyes and a bright smile to his face. Some of his most cherished moments were with his pets through the years (Daisy, Tucker, Lilly, Jupiter, and Dolley), including his favorite cat, Atticus, who would sit by his feet as he read history books on the back porch. Over the last few years, he repeatedly told his family how lucky he was and that he had had a wonderful life.

He was also preceded in death by his nephew, Curry Frank Wadsworth, his niece, Angie Stegall Hansford, and several generations of Hansfords, Stokelys, Maxwells, and Arnolds, all from Oglethorpe County.

He is also survived by sisters-in-law Elizabeth (Libby) Hansford, Mary Jane Fincher Peterson (Hugh), and Phyllis Fincher Parsons; nephews and nieces Benjamen Richard Hansford (Ben), John Bradley Hansford (John), Lynda Wadsworth Pandolph (Lyn), Richard Bruce Wadsworth (Ricky), and Sheri Wadsworth Leonard.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Ashford Memorial Methodist Church with Robert Greene officiating. Interment will follow at Crawford Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday prior to the service from 12:30 – 2:00 PM at the church as well as Friday, March 7th, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, EAST, Athens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to one of the following organizations:

• Ashford Memorial Methodist Church Building Fund P.O. Box 344, Watkinsville, Georgia 30677 https://www.ashfordmemorial.org/giving • Beth-Salem Historic Preservation Fund P.O. Box 35, Lexington, GA 30648

Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, EAST, Athens is entrusted with arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com.