'Everyone loved Don' - Community members share legacy of former Gainesville First UMC pastor
Don Harp Jr., left, shows his support for Shaw Carter. Photo courtesy Doug Carter
Although Don Harp Jr., former pastor of Gainesville First United Methodist Church, hasn’t lived in Hall County since 1988, the warmth of his light can still be felt among those he loved.
On Tuesday, April 20, Harp died at 82 years old.
“He was such a life-changer for so many in this community, even not necessarily members of his church,” Don Carter, who was a close friend of Harp’s, said. “He was loved across the community and so respected. He had that spiritualness about him, that great sense of humor, that kindness. Anytime I walked away from him, I felt better about myself and better about life.”