Morgan D. Hardy

Services will be held at Beat Line Baptist Church in Philadelphia, MS on Monday, August 19th, 2024 at 11:00 am. Visitation will be at McClain-Hays Funeral Home in Philadelphia, MS on Sunday, August 18th, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on Monday from 10:00 am until service time. Morgan D. Hardy, 97, of Philadelphia, MS, passed away on Saturday, August 17th, 2024. He was born on Wednesday, September 1st, 1926 in Philadelphia, MS. He was a native and lifelong resident of Neshoba County and proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corp from 1944-1946. He was a proud graduate of County Line School, East Central Community College, and Mississippi State University. After college he had a successful career, he and his wife moved to West Point, MS and he began working for Swift Dairy. They moved to Cleveland, MS and he worked as the manager for Denton Dairy Products for 10 years. They returned back to Neshoba County where he worked as an insurance agent for Nationwide Insurance. He purchased and operated the Benwalt Hotel which he later renovated and converted to a senior living residence. Mr. Hardy built many homes and apartments in the Philadelphia area and was the owner of Philadelphia's first TV station, "W20AO". He never really retired and remained active all his life. He was an avid reader, especially enjoyed historical novels. He loved following Mississippi State sports, and enjoyed watching ESPN and Fox News. He loved his family and sharing stories about his family and community, making the past come to life. He always wore clip-on ties and the pallbearers will be wearing his ties in honor of their grandfather. His guidance, wisdom and laughter will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Mr. Hardy is survived by his daughters Elaine Gray (Willard) of Cypress, TX and Janice Smith (Jimmy) of Philadelphia; 8 grandchildren Jimmy Dale Smith(Stephanie), Jeffrey Gray(Rebecca), Michele Anderson(Joel), Jamie Smith, Jake Gray, Brian Hardy, Amanda Hardy, and Tanner Hardy; 13 great-grandchildren, Macy and Savannah Smith, Phoebe, Emmie, and Willie Gray, Chandler and Cameron Sanderson, Kaleigh Hardy, Kadden Goforth, Harley and Emme Hardy, Olivia Galloway, and Morgan Vaughan; one great-great-grandchild, Graham Vaughan; two sisters, Mary Alice Rowell of Walkertown, N.C. and Dorothy Sue Floyd of Gulfport; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was a member of Beat Line Baptist Church where he loved and served the Lord. Mr. Hardy was a deacon, song leader and Sunday school teacher. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Alice Hardy; son, Ronald M. "Ron" Hardy; parents, John and Frances Culberson Hardy; brothers, Curtis and Oren J. Hardy; and sisters, Elna McNeece, Clara Ann Dedeaux, and Nina Hardy. Pallbearers will include Jimmy Dale Smith, Jeff Gray, Brian Hardy, Tanner Hardy, Joel Anderson, Chandler Sanderson, and Cameron Sanderson. Kadden Goforth and Jacob Gray will serve as honorary pallbearers.