Mrs. Mary Louise Hardy

Mrs. Mary Louise Hardy of Tampa, Florida, peacefully passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2026.  Her Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 2511 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL 33605, with Reverend Larry Roundtree, II, Officiating. Interment will follow at Orange Hill Cemetery, 4900 E. Chelsea Street, Tampa, FL 33610.

Mrs. Mary Hardy, born in Tallahassee, Florida, moved to Tampa, Florida, as a child.  She attended B.T. Washington and graduated from Middleton High School. She then relocated to Newark, New Jersey, for twenty-one years, where she met her husband, Milton T. Hardy, before returning to Tampa as her permanent residence.

She was a faithful and devoted member of New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church for most of her life and served as a proud member of the Purple Lilly Usher Board. She was also a member of the Eastern Stars. Throughout her career, she served as an employee of Woodbridge State Institution and later retired from the Hillsborough County Public Schools, where she worked as a Nutritionist.

She was preceded in death by: her grandparents, Robert and Beatrice Williams, who lovingly raised her as their own daughter; her beloved mother, Carrie Roger-Williams; her husband, Milton T. Hardy; her daughters, Sharon Y. Hawkins and Diane Hardy; and her grandsons, Fahkir Hardy, Sr. and Fahkir Hardy, Jr.

Mrs. Hardy leaves to cherish her loving memory: her faithful pet companion, Lucky; her daughters, Gwendolyn (Carl), Laverne (Aaron), Tammi, and Msavarghaa; her grandchildren, Chaka, Maurice, Linale (Laschell), Quiana, Kyshan (SeNovia), Kareem (Cree), Amondo, ShaReem, Tariq, ShaBriah, Tytiana, Antone, Kristian, Kelijah, Arlings, and Corey Jr.; her great-grandchildren, Dondre, Tykia, Stephan, Alanna, Darius, Linale Jr., Kyshan Jr., Shila, Josiah, Emerald, Dream, Kaylani, Legend, and Kaidence; Godchildren, Nicholas, Quintella, Sylvia, James, Clarence, Minister James Bryant, Laquandria, and Darius; special friends, Linda, Veriginell, Annie, Lawrence, Shirley, Irene, and the Purple Lilly Usher Board; and a host of family and friends.

Mrs. Hardy will be remembered for her love, strength, faith, and devotion to her family and friends. Her legacy will continue to live on through the many lives she touched.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 2511 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL 33605.

Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners

www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com

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