Dr. Fernando G. Hernandez

Warner Robins-Dr Fernando G. Hernandez passed away on February 13, 2004 at his home. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Interment following in Magnolia Park Cemetery. Father Fred Nijem will officiate. A Rosary will be said on Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of McCullough Funeral Home with visitation following immediately thereafter.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Dr. Fernando G. Hernandez, Sr. Memorial for the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 5052, Warner Robins, GA, 31099 or Hospice of Houston County, 103 Westridge Drive, Warner Robins, GA 31088.

Dr. Hernandez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1922 and was educated at Gulliver Schools in Coral Gables, Florida, Miami Military Academy, and Ruston Academy in Havana. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Havana in 1948. He co-owned La Cruz Azul, a private hospital, and had a private practice in internal medicine. In 1961, he emigrated to the United States, fleeing communism in order to protect his family and provide the freedom to worship, the civil liberties, and the democratic process that this country afforded. Senator John Sparkman of Alabama introduced a bill on behalf of Dr. Hernandez, passing it through both Houses of Congress, which waived his five-year naturalization period for citizenship thus enabling him to take his medical boards. He was Chief of Admissions and Outpatient Services at the VA Hospital in Montgomery, Alabama from 1961 until 1966. During the next five years, he was Chief of Internal Medicine. In Montgomery, he was a member of St. Bede’s Catholic Church, serving as President of the PTA, and was an honorary member of the Montgomery Police Department. Dr. Hernandez was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Alabama Militia in appreciation for his service to the people of the state, an appointment made by the Governor. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Cuban Medical Association in Exile, the American Medical Association, the Medical Association of Georgia, and Peachbelt Medical Association. He moved to Warner Robins with his family in 1971 and entered private practice with a group of physicians at the Doctor’s Clinic, P.A. In 1976, he entered into private practice by himself. He continued in private practice, with privileges at Houston Medical Center where he served in several capacities and as Chief of Family Practice for many years, until his retirement in 1994. In addition, Dr Hernandez was honored in 1988 by the Daughters of the American Revolution who bestowed the DAR Americanism Medal upon him and presented him with the United States flag, which was flown over our nation’s capitol. At the same time, Mayor Ralph Johnson of Warner Robins issued a proclamation declaring June 6, 1988, as Dr. Fernando Garcia Hernandez Day. Dr Hernandez was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was former President of the Sacred Heart School Board. His parents, Fernando Garcia Carratala and Dolores Hernandez Ibanez, and his sister, Irma Alonso, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Renee Garcia (Casabuena) Hernandez; a daughter, Dr. Maria H. Bartlett, and husband Keith; and three sons; Fernando G. Hernandez, Jr. of Warner Robins; Thomas G. Hernandez and wife Carol of Atlanta; Joseph G. Hernandez and wife Sonia of Macon; and nine grandchildren, David and Patrick Bartlett; James H. Hernandez; Tiffany, Stephanie, Whitney, and Kimberly Hernandez; and Samuel and Cole Hernandez. He is also survived by one sister, Alexandra Roth, and her husband Steve, of Maryland, as well as four nieces and two nephews.

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.


Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Road
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088