James Day Hardy rose to great distinction in the affairs of southwestern Troup County, Georgia. His obituary found in the minutes of Troup Factory Lodge Number 115, Free and Accepted Masons, states that he: "was one of the pioneers of Troup County's settlement, one of the old guard who have given our county its name and fame as the home of a people possessed of all the elements of true and excellent manhood. Brother Hardy was true and sincere in all the relations of life, generous, liberal, and hospitable, a man of energy and industry, applying himself with assiduous persistence to whatever his hand found to do. His open-handed generosity was ever extended to any call for individual aid or public enterprise, and we feel that his death has caused a void in our community which will be difficult to fill" ("Troup County, Georgia And Her People" by Martha S. Anderson and Danny Knight, Volume VII, October 1987, No. 4)
MR John Jesse HARDY
Funeral services for John Jesse Hardy, 96, of 512 Main St, Broussard, LA & formerly of Austin & Marshall, TX, will be held at 10am Sat in Colonial Chapel of Sullivan's Funeral Home in Marshall, with the Rev Fisk Ray officiating. Burial will follow in Harris Chapel Cem in Beckville, Tx. Masonic gravesite services will be performed by Marshall Masonic Lodge No 22.
Mr Hardy died Thurs in his residence in Broussard. A Broussard resident since 1967, he was born 10/25/1879, in Hico, LA, s/o John Henry Hardy & Mary Elizabeth "Mollie" Smith Hardy. He attended Hico, La, schools and the Dallas Business School. Mrs Hardy proceeded him in death on 10/26/1965. Mr Hardy was a retired building contractor and had been a contractor in Dallas before moving to Marshall in 1917.
He was a member of Broussard First Baptist Church, was a life member and oldest member of Marshall Masonic Lodge No 22, a life member of the Scottish Rite Mason Lodge and was the first Worthy Patron of the Aurora Chapter No 799 of the Order of the Eastern Star, Serving in 1926-27.
Survivors include 2 daughters, Ruth Hardy Rudd of Dallas and Mrs W M [Mildred} McKnight of Broussard; 5 grandchildren: George Hardy Rudd, W M [Bill] McKnight, Jr, Wanda Jean Hardy Strange, Anita Lynn Atkins and Lana Susan Hardy Dunn. A son, Wilber Jesse Hardy, preceded him in death in 1973.
Pallbearers included: W M McKnight, Sr., Dr G Hardy Rudd, Charles McKnight, Eddie Dunn, W M McKnight, Jr, W M McKnight, III, Bill Strange and Oscar Atkins. Honorary pallbearer is Dr S H Frazier. (MARSHALL NEWS MESSENGER, AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN 4/09/76)
Lemuel H Hardy - Kinston, April 3, 1930. "I have preached the truth, and I know that I have preached the truth." With these words the venerable Elder L. H. Hardy fell dead in the pulpit of the Primitive Baptist Church in Loris, South Carolina, last Sunday. The 77 year old minister was pastor of several scattered congregations in this state and South Carolina, one of them located here. His local parishioners today heard the story of his dramatic death, and said they were glad Elder Hardy had died in that fashion. "He wanted to die in the pulpit preaching the living word," they said.
For more than 55 years the preacher made the rounds of his
churches. He preached 10,000 sermons from Florida to Canada. He was not an orator in the accepted sense, but his voice had great carying power, his words were carefully chosen, and he knew the Bible as few men have known it. His was one of the kindest of faces. He repeated a thousand times the injunction, "Love one another." The story of his funeral came up from the little
town of Atlantic.... All business was suspended.....schools closed.....the entire population turned out...three of his brotherhood veteran ministers....conducted the services.....
It was nothing for Elder Hardy to travel several hundred miles
to fill an appointment. One of his charges was at Reidsville, in other times a days's journey from his Core Sound home. He lived in Atlantic 54 years. He was loved as few have been loved in the "Banks" country. The body of the aged minister lies in a community cemetery in the outskirts of Atlantic. ("The Eastern North Carolina Hardy-Hardee Family in South and Southwest" by David L Hardee - printed in Raleigh, NC "News & Observer" 4/4/1930)
JOSEPH LEMUEL HARDY
KINSTON - Joseph Lemuel Hardy, 92, of Kinston and part of America's "The Greatest Generation" passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2011, at his home. Lemuel was born April 2, 1919, in Lenoir County to the late Marion Langhorne Hardy and Eloise Kornegay Hardy. Lemuel graduated from Wheat Swamp High School and served with the United States Army during World War II. Lemuel farmed his entire life and enjoyed a special bond with the land. He took great pride in his yard and was always willing to share vegetables and flowers grown in his garden and yard with others. Lemuel was a lifelong member of Wheat Swamp Christian Church where he has served as a Deacon and Trustee. Lemuel enjoyed brightening someone's day and relished being called "Granddaddy Hardy" by children at the day care where his wife worked. A service of remembrance will be held Friday, December 23, 2011, at 11 a.m. from Rouse Funeral Home with Pastor Hank Jarman officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Westview Cemetery. Lemuel is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Hazel Sutton Hardy; two sons, Lemuel Sutton Hardy and wife Faye, of Kinston, Jackie L. Hardy and wife Donna, of La Grange; three grandchildren, Richard Williams and wife Donna, of Kinston, Angela Sutton and husband Scott, of Snow Hill and Brian Williams of Sneads Ferry; five great-grandchildren, Ashley Sutton, Elizabeth Sutton, John Williams, Cassidy Willoughby and Sommer Willoughby; sister-in-law Georgia Hardy of Kinston; brother-in-law Aaron Smith of Dudley; along with a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Lemuel was preceded in death by a sister, Sallie Hardy Smith; and two brothers, Robert Hardy and W.K. "Spark" Hardy. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Rouse Funeral Home and at other times they will be at the home. Online condolences may be expressed at rousefh.com. Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to Wheat Swamp Christian Church Permanent Fund, 3732 Wheat Swamp Road, La Grange, NC 28551 or Continuum Home Health, 704M Plaza Boulevard, Kinston, NC 28504. Arrangements are with Rouse Funeral Home, La Grange.
OLA GILSTRAP HARDY
Funeral services for Mrs J J [Ola] Hardy, 80, of Tatum, TX, were held at 2:30pm Wed at the Colonial Chapel, Sullivan Funeral Home, Marshall, Tx. Dr S H Frazier & Dr J Wesley Smith, Marshall, and Rev J R Matthews, pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church conducted the services. Burial was in Harris Chapel Cemetery, Beckville, TX
Pallbearers were D A Jacks, Frank Banta, Eddie Dunn, Oscar Atkins, Kelly Killion & Q C Murphy.
Mrs Hardy, a native of Blueridge, TX, was born 7/23/1885, d/o George Washington Gilstrap [native Miss] and Mrs Nancy Ann Wilson Gilstrap [native Texan]. She was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church and a past matron of Dallas Chapter No 1, Order of Eastern Star.
Surviving are her husband, John Jesse Hardy, Tatum; one son, Wilber Jesse Hardy, Austin; 2 daughters, Mrs W M {Millie] McKnight, Broussard, La, & Mrs Ruth Hardy Rudd, Marshall; 2 sisters, Mrs. W F Atkinson, Bedias, Tx, & Mrs Maggie Robinson, Austin; one brother, Guy Gilstrap, Abiline; 5 grandchildren: G Hardy Rudd, Bill McKnight, Wanda Strange, Anita Atkins, Susan Hardy Dunn; and 10 great-grandchildren. (MARSHALL NEWS MESSENGER)
Richard Holt Hardy - A FRIEND OF THE HARDYS
Died at his home in Hardy, Mississippi, Sunday, 30 Oct., 1892, at one p. m., the beloved friend, citizen, and Christian, Richard Holt Hardy.
He was born in Edgefield District, S. C., the 7th day of February, 1814, and lived to the ripe age of 78 years, 8 months, and thirteen days.
The 17th day of August, 1836, he was married to Miss Lucy Griffis, sister of the late, and in memory much cherished, Mr. Jesse Griffis.
In 1844, he moved to Mississippi and settled in what was then Yalobusha County.
He had been unwell for several weeks and frequently said "his departure was near." Sunday morning he was up at his usual hour attending to the feeding of his stock and after eating breakfast with his family, complained of feeling badly and laid down upon his be. Later in the day he grew worse and his family becoming alarmed, their faithful physician, Dr. W. F. Barksdale, was summoned to his bedside, but the ministrations of his devoted wife and together with the physicians' skill were unavailing when, at one o'clock, he peacefully and calmly passed away to
his celestial rest.
At the age of 16, he embraced the Christian faith and united with the Baptist church, and after settling in Mississippi, joined Mt. Paran Baptist Church, which later became the Hardy Baptist Church. He was a consistent, and useful member of his church, acting as clerk and for years a faithful deacon. For upwards of 20 years, he was the efficient and trusted treasurer of the Yalobusha Baptist Association, and was once elected to the civil office of Assessor of Grenada County. He filled out his official term of two years with eminent satisfaction to his constituency.
He was a man of commanding appearance, with a most strikingly honest personality. He was the exemplar of true life and true manhood; a pious husband and father, and an honest man. His life was beautifully impressive, and such a life cannot be lost to his community.
Many will continue to think of this Godly man, and in their moments of solitude or wakeful hours of the night, will say "Let me too live the life of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."
He left an aged and loving wife, a devoted daughter and a grand-son and grand-daughter in tears over their bereavement, but they are full of faith and cheerfully looking forward to a happy reunion again. ("Troup County, Georgia And Her People" by Martha S. Anderson and Danny Knight, Volume VII, October 1987, No. 4)
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