Charles Hardy Jr.

A graveside service for Charlie D. Hardy, Jr. will be held on Monday, June 28 at 1 pm at Fellowship Baptist Church, Meridian, Ms., with Bro. Kyle Naylor officiating. The family will receive friends between 12:00 noon and 12:45 pm at Fellowship Baptist Church. Webb Funeral Home is charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hardy, 92, passed away peacefully at Bedford Care Center of Meridian on June 23, 2021.

Mr. Hardy was born on May 27, 1929 to the late Charlie D. Hardy, Sr. and Ola Killen Hardy. He was a graduate of House High School, East Central Junior College, and Mississippi State University. He earned a Master’s Degree and multiple post graduate specialist certificates from Mississippi State University. Working in public schools in Georgia and Mississippi, he was a teacher, principal, mathematics specialist, and environmental science specialist. He appreciated his coworkers and remembered many of his students until he passed away. He was proud of the accomplishments of the students he taught. He was an instructor in MASEP for many years, with the hope that this driver safety education could save lives. After retirement from education, he was the manager of Saxon’s Machinery in Meridian and worked as a People Greeter at Walmart on Hwy 19N in Meridian. He believed in the value of hard work, doing every job heartily, and giving great customer service. He attended First Baptist Meridian for many years, where he sang in Bro. John Laughlin’s choir, served as a deacon, and taught Sunday School. He had a beautiful baritone voice, learned shape note singing, and loved gospel music. More recently, he was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church.

He served in the Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed in Libya.

Charlie was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Juanice Kirkland Hardy and their son Terry Hardy, his parents Charlie and Ola Hardy, parents in law Lee and Lexie Kirkland, sisters Mabel Truhett, Lillian McWilliams, and Jewel Edwards, brothers in law George Saxon, Charlie Truhitt, Clyde McWilliams, Mack Edwards, Perry Little, Bill Hall, Wayne Kirkland, sisters in law Syble Hardy, Bernice Kirkland, Babs Kirkland, and Tommie Lynn Kirkland

He is survived by his children, Charlene Pieper, Cindy (Jerald) Luther, Tammy (Leslie) Rush, grandchildren LeeAnne (Wes) Cavin, Amy Pieper, Jennifer (Paul) Michael, Katie (Justin) Daniels, Charlie Luther, Leslie (Emily) Rush, Neely (Karl) Brantley, Drew Rush, Emily (Ryan) Clay, and Erin (Matt) Adkins. “Granddad” adored his sixteen great grandchildren: Morgan and Mac (Kailey) Cavin, Allie and Lauren Ellis, Liam and Sam Daniels, Caroline Rush, Tripp, Jackson, and Emmy Brantley, Cooper, Sadie, and Maddy Ryan Clay, John Claiborne and Ellie Adkins, his brothers Ozell and Jim (Bobbie) Hardy, and sisters Sarah Hall and Sue Saxon, brother in law Fred Kirkland and sister in law Nancy (Allen) Hardy, and several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Aldersgate, healthcare providers of Rush Health Systems, Specialty Hospital, Stennis Hospital, VA Primary Care and Homebased Primary Care, Compassus Hospice, and Bedford Care for their attention to Daddy’s need