By Henry Bryant
In the 1980s (and even before that) one of the forces that started the rebirth of Grant Park and the neighborhoods of Southeast Atlanta was the Hartman family. Sadly, Keith Hartman died recently at his family’s home, Red Arrow Ranch in Gwinnett County. His dad’s business Hartman Realty might be remembered by older residents. It brought young homeowners and investors to the neighborhood by promoting affordability and historic charm. His mom might be remembered for almost singlehandedly publishing The Park Bench, the neighborhood newspaper for Grant Park, and a predecessor of The Porch Press.
In his youth, Keith became an Eagle Scout and attended and graduated from Avondale High School where he was 1974 Class President. Keith married Carol King, worked on renovating houses, and moved into his own restoration on Boulevard in Grant Park with Carol and their growing family. Along the way, they helped create the Grant Park Cooperative Pre-School. For 25 years Keith ran a carpentry and general contracting business that specialized in restoring Victorian and Craftsman houses. After a catastrophic fire at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Grant Park, Keith led efforts to rebuild the education building.
Twenty years ago Keith returned to school to complete his Bachelors Degree at Georgia State University going on to earn his Masters of Social Work Degree at the University of Georgia. He worked for 15 years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Keith is survived by his wife, three kids, and six grandchildren. His mom, Mary, and dad, Arden, preceded him in death. On August 6, there was a memorial service at St. Paul.
