Sherman E. Hardy

SHERMAN E. HARDY, son of the late Richard Hardy and Emma Braxton, was born on December 5, 1926 in Baltimore, Maryland. He departed this life on January 7, 2016 after a lengthy illness. He was educated in the Baltimore City School System. Through family and friends he was introduced to Rita Dent. They were married on August 7, 1950 at St. Peter Claver. As a young newlywed with a child on the way, Sherman was drafted into the United States Army in Jan. 1952 during the height of the Korean War. While in Korea, his unit was engaged in battle, when CPL Hardy was sent back for supplies. Upon his return, he found his entire unit had been killed. Through the overwhelming power of prayer from his wife, God spared him that fate. After the end of the war, in December 1953,CPL Hardy returned home to a loving wife and a one year old son. Not long afterwards, they joined St. Ann's Church. Sherman worked at the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company as an auto mechanic from the late 1950's through the early 1960's. He was employed at Himmelfarb Brothers Appliances as a truck driver from the late 1960's through early 1970's. From then, he was employed by the the Baltimore City Government as a chauffeur laborer until his retirement in 1992. Sherman made numerous friends wherever he went. He will be most remembered for his beautiful smile, pleasant attitude, sitting outside on the front porch, dancing the cha-cha, sneaking cookies and candy bars to the grandchildren and for his favorite saying, “Aw fiddlesticks!”. He fathered thirteen children throghout his marriage and helped raise additional ones, three of whom predeceased him: Melvin Hardy, Sharon Williams and Michael Larkins. He is survived by: his wife of sixty-five years, Rita E. Hardy; his children, Sherman Eugene Hardy, Donald Hardy, Diane Bazemore, Lois Lawrence, Richard Hardy, Lori Ratliff, Catherine Hardy, Brenda Hardy-Holloman, Bernadette Simmons, Gwendolyn Johnson, Yvette Washington and Sherlyn Pitts; siser-in-law, Sheldon Lawrence, Deon Holloman, Kenneth Simmons, Wayne Johnson Sr., and Rodney Washington; daughters-in-law, Marilyn Hardy, Virginia (Jo) Hardy and Ayesha Larkins; forty-four grandchildren, fifty-seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; one sister, Mary Hardy; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family relatives and friends.

Tributes

Sherman E. Hardy

December 5, 1927 - January 7, 2016