Nancye Charlene Hardy

Services will be held Monday, January 29, 2018, at 10 a.m. from McClain-Hays Chapel in Philadelphia, MS with Dr. Scotty Goldman officiating. Burial will follow in Bethsaida Cemetery in Neshoba County, MS.  Visitation will be held Sunday, January 28, 2018, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., at McClain-Hays Funeral Home.  Charlene Hardy, known as Mawmaw to almost all who knew her, was born in rural Newton County, Mississippi, on August 17, 1929, and was greeted at the Heavenly Gates by her husband, Jethro and daughter, Debra Hardy on January 26, 2018. Charlene, the only child of Alvin and Nina George Taylor Everett, was raised in the House Community of Neshoba County, Mississippi.  Shortly after her birth,  Alvin, her father, was killed in a train accident, leaving Mrs. Everett, a single parent.  Mrs. Everett later married Elvin Chesney of House, Mississippi, and the two raised Charlene along with four siblings, Pat, Sylvia, Martha Sue, and Billy Chesney. After graduation from House High School in 1946, Charlene attended East Central Community College for one semester. In December of that year, she was married to her childhood sweetheart and best friend, Jethro Hardy, from the Bethsaida Community of Neshoba County.  This union lasted 63 years until November 9, 2009, when Jethro paved the way to heaven for her.  This union produced three children, Charlotte Ann, Debra Lynn and Nancye Karen. Between 1954-1974, Charlene worked as a bookkeeper in Jackson County, MS.  Her first love was her husband and family.  No matter her responsibilities, the family always came first.  During this time, she was very active in Eastlawn Baptist Church and a founding member of Ingalls Avenue Baptist Church in Pascagoula. As a member of Pascagoula Chapter #151 Order of the Eastern Star, Charlene served as page and as a state officer for the Order of the Eastern Star. From 1974-1994, Mawmaw and Pawpaw (Jethro) were in child care ministry serving as Superintendent of the Masonic Children’s Home, Meridian, Mississippi and later House Parents and Director of Supply at the Baptist Children’s Village in Jackson, Mississippi. Upon her retirement in 1994, Mawmaw was busy with her hobbies and crafts, which included creation of porcelain dolls and crocheting. Charlene is survived by two daughters, Charlotte Lafferty (Lewis) of Flowood, Mississippi, and Karen Fisk (John) of Lebanon, Tennessee; grandchildren, Archie Godwin (Pam) of Avion, Italy, Denise Williard (Chuck) of Winston Salem , North Carolina, Stephen Fisk of Berkeley, California and Nicholas Lafferty of Clinton, Mississippi; great-grandchildren, Charles Williard of Nashville, Tennessee, Courtney Williard of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Micah Williard of Winston Salem, North Carolina; sister, Sylvia Feazell (Frank) of Gautier, Mississippi and brother, Billy Chesney (Celeste) of  Madisonville, Tennessee; sisters-in-law, Edrith Miller of Carthage, Mississippi and Jewell Goldman (Rodney) of Philadelphia, Mississippi;  She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and their families. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Baptist Children’s Village, P O Box 27, Clinton, MS 39060-0027 or your favorite charity.