Loss, Again

Richard Marion Dennard, 81, passed from this earth to his home in heaven on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, in Treutlen County with loved ones right beside him.  His strength of body and of character was evident to the very end.  

Richard was born at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia on September 17, 1942, to Marion “Beck” Dennard and Ruby Lee Robinson Dennard.  He married Joyce Ivey on August 9, 1964, at First Baptist Church, Conyers, Georgia.  They enjoyed 53 years of marriage before Joyce passed of breast cancer in 2017.  Two children were born to this marriage.  They and their families survive Richard:  Blakely Sutton Dennard, his wife, Adele, and children, Richard Jackson (R.J.) Dennard, his wife, Megan, and Hunter Dennard Richman, her husband, Jason; Krista Dennard Sanders, her husband, Jeff, and children, Julia Karis Sanders and Jeffrey Brighton Sanders of Fort Worth, Texas and two great grandchildren, Landry Kate Dennard and Brooks Blakely Richman.  He is also survived by his younger sister, Nancy Wardlaw and her husband, Charles of LaGrange, Georgia.

Richard grew up simply in Conyers, Georgia with hard working parents who alternated day and night shifts at the cotton mill in order to raise their children.  Richard spent his days doing as little school as possible so that he could spend more time fishing and swimming in the Yellow River that ran through their property in Conyers. Before entering the service, he graduated from North Georgia College with a degree in biology and chemistry.  At that point, the military granted him a deferment to attend pharmacy school at Mercer University.  Once he graduated, he spent a year in Vietnam.  For his service, he was awarded several honors including The Army Commendation medal, The Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.  

Wesley Crowe, who owned Soperton Pharmacy, attended the same high school as Richard in Conyers and served as pharmacists together at Fort McPherson, 3rd Army Headquarters, in Atlanta. He told Richard about the pharmacy that was for sale in Soperton, Daly Drugs, later to be called Daily Pharmacy and then Dennard Drugs.  Once he and Joyce chose Soperton to be their home, he signed the papers to be discharged from the army and to buy the pharmacy on the same day.  Richard’s dad, Beck Dennard, loaned him the money to buy the store and the rest is a 53 year history.  

Richard and Joyce poured the right amount of heart and soul into the business leading out with a solid work ethic and a love for people.  Providing excellent healthcare, caring for a community during and after hours, being “all in” on whatever Soperton needed and giving people chances were just a few things that were important to Richard. After 53 plus years of business in Soperton, the Dennard Drugs and True Value Hardware family is large and loyal. 

When Richard wasn’t at the store there was a good chance he was either walking a bird field or fishing with friends. He did these things with the best of men— including his son and grandson.  He enjoyed traveling with Joyce all over the world but really favored the trips that involved a fishing pole.  He loved growing vegetables in his garden, playing bridge, watching his kids and grandkids participate in their myriad of activities and sports, eating a good meal with family or friends, listening to Blake tell of his adventures, anticipating a visit to or from Krista in Texas, spending a week on St. George Island in the summer with the family, shopping for all of his people for Christmas and gathering the whole family around the dining room table for a meal any time of the year.

Once Richard said, “Opening the store was my livelihood…..but raising my family here in Treutlen County was probably the biggest blessing I ever had.”

Richard with his kind smile, steadiness of presence and mild manner taught all of us many things— too many to name here. Mostly he taught by doing…by example.  We observed him and learned the power of not having to say a word.  We learned what an incredible work ethic looks like and what a good leader does.  We saw what faithfulness to one woman looks like, and we learned what it means to be generous.  To be his customer was to be respected and helped in whatever way you needed it.  To be his employee was to be given a chance and trusted.  To be his friend was to be valued, included on adventures and fed really well.  To be his family was to be loved, special, cared for and a recipient of his thoughtful generosity.  

Because he loved so many in his own unique way, Richard was beloved in this community and certainly beloved by his family and many, many friends.  He was convinced of and knew, in part, the goodness of God, and now he knows in full.  To Him be the glory.   

The celebration of his life will be held in the First Baptist Church, Soperton, Georgia, at 2 pm, Sunday, February 4, with Pastor Calvin Anderson officiating.  Burial will be in Westview Cemetery with Sammons Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.  A visitation will be held at the funeral home Saturday, February 3 from 5-8 p.m. 

Pallbearers will be R.J. Dennard, Brighton Sanders, Jason Richman, Brian Bowers, Jeff Watts, and Maury Beasley.

Honorary pall bearers are Bill Barrett, Wayne Christian, Don Christian, Scott Beasley, Hugh Gillis, James Hutcheson, Wade Clark, David Avery, Bill Odom and members of the Joyce Dennard Sunday Class.

Donations may be made to the Richard M. Dennard Scholarship fund which will help students that are pursuing a pharmacy career.  Please mail donations to the Georgia First Bank at 1202 Second Street, Soperton, GA 30457 in care of Maury Beasley.