AUGUSTA, Ga. - Harry Matthews Oldham, Jr., MD, died April 14, 2008 at Trinity Hospital. Dr. Oldham, a native of Rome, GA, was born August 3, 1934, the son of Harry Matthews Oldham and Martha Middlebrooks Oldham. He graduated from Darlington High School in Rome, Georgia in 1952. He attended the University of Georgia as an undergraduate where he was the president of the Chi Phi Fraternity and a member of the University of Georgia's SEC Championship Swim Team from 1954-1957. He received his M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia in 1962. He served his internship at Macon General Hospital, and his Residency at the Medical College of Georgia Hospital in Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1963-1969. Following his internship, he served in the Navy at the United States Naval Hospital in Key West, Florida from 1967-1969. After his residency he entered private practice of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Augusta in 1969. After being in practice for 23 years by himself, he became a founding member of the Summerville Women's Medical Group of Augusta, Georgia in June of 1992. Dr. Oldham was a tireless physician, practicing out of St. Joseph Hospital for 40 years. He served as Chief of Staff of St. Joseph Hospital from 1990 - 1991. During his 40 years of practice at St. Joseph Hospital, Dr. Oldham delivered over 6,000 babies. After retiring from obstetrics, he remained active in the practice of Urogynecology. He performed the first laparoscopic hysterectomy in Augusta with Dr. Pat Williams along with numerous other groundbreaking Urogynecological surgeries up until the present. Dr. Oldham was a founding member of West Lake Country Club and a passionate Georgia Bulldog. Dr. Oldham was a member of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecologist, 1969, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, 1970, American Fertility Society, AMA Southern Medical Association, Medical Association of Georgia, Richmond County Medical Society, Richmond County Obstetrics and Gynecologists Society, Georgia Society of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, American Association of Obstetrics and Gynecologic Laparoscopists and the International Society of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. Dr. Oldham is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Billie Ann Strickland Oldham; his daughter, Valerie Oldham Bullock and husband, Dr. Huey Bullock of Augusta; his daughter, Stacey Oldham Saunders and husband, John Lloyd Saunders, Jr. of Florence, Alabama; his daughter, Kimberly Oldham Dismukes and husband, Edward Dismukes of Spanish Fort, Alabama; his son, Harry Matthews Oldham III and wife, Katherine Fullerton Oldham of Alpharetta, Georgia; his son, Gregory Strickland Oldham and wife, Ansley Drewry Oldham of Augusta; five granddaughters and six grandsons: William Matthews Carlton, Sarah Lanier Saunders, Anna Marguerite Saunders, Caroline Oldham Saunders, Leland Reese Dismukes, Kathleen Elise Dismukes, Harry Oldham Dismukes, Hannah Elizabeth Oldham, Harry Matthews Oldham IV, John Robert Oldham and Andrew Strickland Oldham. A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 17, 2008 at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Neal Phelps officiating. If so desired memorials may be made to the St. Joseph Foundation, Inc., PO Box 31358, Augusta, GA 30903. The family will receive friends Wednesday Evening, April 16, 2008 from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. www.thomaspoteet.com .

The Augusta Chronicle-April 16, 2008