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July 5, 2007

Mary Eleanor Hardy

    MEMPHIS: Mary Eleanor Harris Lynch Hardy, formerly of Water Valley, passed away on Friday, June 29, 2007, in Atlanta, Georgia.

    For 25 years, Mrs. Hardy taught in the Shelby County School System. She was born in Water Valley in 1917, the daughter of Attorney John Lynn Harris, Sr., and Eleanor Bradford Duke Harris – .both served in the Mississippi State Legislature. Mrs. Hardy was also the stepdaughter of Leon Guy (L. G.) Dean of Shaw. She was named the 1933 Watermelon Queen in Water Valley at age 15. She had recently moved with her husband, Charles Francis Hardy, to live in an assisted living residence, as she had Alzheimer’s disease.

    Her life will be celebrated at Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis on Thursday, July 5, at ten a.m. in the morning, with Seven Oaks Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. A graveside service will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley at 3 p.m.

    Mrs. Hardy attended Mississippi State College for Women (MSCW) and was graduated with a B.A. from Delta State, where she was the only married female student. She and John Francis Lynch, Jr. from Syracuse, New York married in 1939, in Shaw. The Lynches moved to Sasebo, Japan during the American Occupation, where Mr. Lynch was the American Red Cross Field Director. They returned stateside to Memphis Naval Air Station in Millington, where she engaged in volunteer work for the ARC and raised their two children. She began her teaching career in 1955 and retired in 1980. Mr. Lynch died in July, 1963. While continuing her teaching career, Mrs. Hardy earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Memphis in Educational Administration and Supervision and was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary educational sorority.

    After 30 years a widow, she married widower, Charles F. Hardy, in her daughter’s home in Pontomac, Maryland in 1993. The Hardy’s made their home in Memphis, where Mr. Hardy was a communicant at Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis since the mid-1970’s and she was a member of St. Margaret’s Circle and a regular volunteer with the Lenten Waffle Shop.

    Survivors include: her husband, Charles Francis Hardy of Atlanta, Georgia; her son, John Francis Lynch, III of Saratoga, California; a daughter, The Rev. Eleanor L. Ellsworth of Del Mar, California; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a step-son, Richard Egan Hardy of Atlanta; and two step-grandchildren.

    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by six brothers, Gerald Harris, John Lynn Harris, Jr., Ed Harris, William E. Harris, Duke Harris, and Frank Harris.

    The family requests that memorials be directed either to Calvary Episcopal Church, 102 North Second Street, Memphis, TN 38103, or to Alzheimer’s Day Services of Memphis, Grashot Center, P. O. Box 280027, Memphis, TN 38128-0027

Deborah Kay Williams

    MOUNT OLIVE: Mrs. Deborah Kay Williams of Mount Olive died June 26, 2007, at her home.

    Born October 6, 1949, in Water Valley, Mrs. Williams was a daughter of Amey Martin Hollowell of Water Valley and the late Van Buren Hollowell. She was a graduate of Water Valley High School and was a college graduate. She was a retired music teacher, having taught for 30 years in the Covington County Schools. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Mount Olive. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and the Mount Olive Music Lovers Club.

    Funeral services were held Thursday, June 28, at 10 a.m. in First Baptist Church, Mount Olive. Burial was in the Mount Olive City Cemetery. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Mt. Olive had charge of arrangements.

    Survivors include: her husband, Benny Williams of Mount Olive; two daughters, Heather Williams of Brandson, and Melissa W. Dennis (Daniel) of Cleveland; her mother Amey Martin Hollowell of Water Valley; one brother, George Hollowell of Fredricksburg, Virginia; and one grandson.

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