Fr. George Alfred Harding

April 25, 1938 - January 14, 2022

The Very Reverend Canon George Alfred Idowu Harding, 83, of Charlotte, joined his Lord and Savior on January 14, 2022. Fr. George was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, on April 25, 1938, the son of Gilbert and Tutan Cole Harding. He grew up in Banana Island and feeling called to serve the Lord he joined the Anglican Diocese of Sierra Leone, as a priest in 1970. He attended Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone. After that, he attended Nottingham University in England before coming to the United States where he attended Bladensburg University in Illinois. He was a former Dean of the Anglican Cathedral of St George in Freetown, Sierra Leone; a former Priest in Charge at St. Edmund’s in New York; and a former Curate at St Michael the Archangel Anglican Church in Matthews, NC. Fr. George was a devoted Christian priest who touched many lives. Those that knew him would call him an “angel in black robes”. Soft spoken and ever the gentlemen, his love of others led many to Christ, and his entire life and breath was devoted to serving his fellow man in the love and fellowship of God. His principal objective throughout his career was to minister and help people spiritually, intellectually and physically in all aspects of the Christian faith and to spend adequate time in devotions with the sick and dying. Fr. George is survived by his wife of 20 years, Claudia; four children: Victor Harding of Illinois, Thelma (Hussein) Ayamel of Maryland, Patricia Harding of Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Alfred Harding of Illinois. He is further survived by eight grandchildren, one great grandchild, and numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings. Fr. George’s family has given the family of Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home the privilege of caring for him and for them. Visitation will begin at 10:30 followed by funeral services at 12:30 on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at St. Michael the Archangel Anglican Church, 2211 Margaret Wallace Road, Matthews, NC 28105. All services will conclude at the church.