Ella L, Hardy

Ella Louise Murray was born on November 9, 1932. She was a wonderful Christian lady who lived out, in such a beautiful way, the scripture she loved most - Micah 6:8 . . . 'He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" She passed from
this life in an equally beautiful way on May 28, 2016. The Lord be praised for both how she
lived and how she died.

Her Family - Ella was the oldest child and only daughter of Ethel Gray Murray and Landy Murray. She grew up in a God-fearing home with her two younger brothers -- William O'Neil and Wendell Burnett, where she learned what love is all about. Ella had a wonderful sense of self, at an early age. She knew who she was -- God's special creation. She was an intelligent, independent thinker; strong in integrity and courage, with a drive for justice (she didn't like to see anyone treated unfairly), and a heart of mercy. When she saw that Wendell needed special help to learn his school work and to do simple tasks, she made up her mind as a child that she would become a teacher to help people like her brother. She determined she would use her strengths for the benefit of others.

Ella attended Baltimore City Public Schools, graduating from Paul Laurence Dunbar High
School in the June Class of 1950. She gained quite a reputation at Dunbar for reciting Paul
Laurence Dunbar poems in dialect. We can hear her now saying "Lias, Lias, bless de lawd." Her memories of Dunbar administrators, teachers, friends, and real good sister-friends were
precious to her. Throughout her adult life, she planned and participated in Dunbar class
activities.

On one appointed Christmas, Ella Murray became Ella Murray-Hardy, when she married a tall,
dark, handsome Cardinal named Leon Hardy, Jr. (Tree). She always dreamed of having "three
girls with long thick hair," and God gave her and Tree just that - three daughters with long thick
hair -- Jacquelyn, Melodye, and Linda; and a son -- Leon III (Lenny) to top it off! Unconditional
and self-sacrificing love flowed from "Mama" to her three girls and boy. She always believed in
them; always hoped for and sought the best for them; always endured all things for them, and
would fight for and defend them with all that was within her. She introduced them to Christ
through Christian ministries, totally supported and encouraged their school and extra-curriculum
endeavors; and never missed anything they participated in. And because Mama's loving
heart always had "room for one more," she raised her niece, Jacqueline (Hope) as her own.

"Mama" was loved by all whose lives were touched by her exuberant personality, hearty
laughter and infinite energy. She opened the doors of her home to relatives, friends and
foreigners. Her home was full of food, laughter and fun. She'd cook, laugh, talk and encourage
while Linda tinkled the ivory; Lenny beat the drums; Melodye held up the vocals; with
everyone else joining in as they chose. Jacky escaped it all by reading! She spoiled everyone
and everything - even the dogs and the guinea pigs. Mama's car was like a "clown's" car.
She packed all of her children and their friends (Christian and non-Christian) into it and when
they got to their destination and were unloading, kids just kept coming out! When her grandchildren
came into the world, Mama's heart embraced them with the same deep, captivating love. And during the last 15 years of her life, when strokes caused her body to progressively contract to the point that she recently could not move it, her grandsons, especially Lamont, moved it for her - whether it be to the left or the right, to the bed or to the chair, to the shower or to the car, to special events or on vacations (Mama did not miss any yearly family vacations).

Ella Hardy had many friends and she loved to socialize and travel. She planned get-a-ways for
fund-raisers or just for everyone's relaxation. She loved cruises. Montego Bay, Jamaica was
her favorite vacation place. Her signature dress accessory was high heel shoes. She was short in stature (as she said she was "a little potato but hard to peel."), and you could hear her coming... those high heeled shoes tapping in quick "let's get down to business" strides. Her Career -- The realization of Ella Murray's dream to help those like her brother began in1964, when she became a classroom teacher for Special Education students at School No. 304 in Brooklyn. From there, she rose to positions in the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS) that included resource teacher, senior teacher, Admission, Review and Dismissal Chairperson/Manager, Educational Specialist, Assistant Principal and Interim Principal. In all of the positions she held,
her greatest desire was that the children learn and grow. She believed that being a teacher was next to being a king. Her love for teaching was only surpassed by her love for people, whether they were children, teenagers or seniors. She was voted "Boss of the Year" in 1979 by the American Business Women's Association.

Mrs. Hardy's service was called "remarkable" by the Superintendent of BCPSS when she retired in
June 1997 after 33 years of service. During her early years of post retirement, she served on the
Maryland Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board for Baltimore City.

Mrs. Hardy's degrees include a Bachelor of Science from Coppin State College, and a Master of
Education in Special Education from Coppin State College. She also earned a Certificate of Administration and Supervision from Loyola College and a Certificate of Advance Proficiency from the National Principals Academy of Elementary and Middle School Principals.

Her Faith - Sister Ella Hardy walked tall in her faith. She came to God through Jesus Christ at a very early age while attending Centennial United Methodist Church. As a young adult, she joined Faith Baptist Church, where her walk was strikingly that of a "peculiar person, zealous for good works."

For 30 years, over several tenures (the first of which began in 1959), she served as President of the Women's League of Faith Baptist Church. During her tenures, Missionary Ella Hardy carried out programs established during the Leagues' first year of existence, and was used by the Holy Spirit to compassionately institute new Spirit-filled and empowered services to the overlooked or forgotten.

Specifically, the League regularly visited the sick and convalescing, taking with them refreshments, clothing, toilet articles and "the Word" of God; the imprisoned (for several years, the League gave each man on "Death Row" at the Maryland State Penitentiary an Easter package which included candy, gum, toilet articles, stationery, stamps and Christian tracts); the homeless (the Baltimore Rescue Mission and Mana House were frequent destinations); the hungry; the mentally challenged; abused and neglected children (the League's Annual Christmas Party was held for decades and provided food, gifts, fun and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many as 200 children in a single party). If a need was brought to the attention of any League member, these great ladies met it in a kind, compassionate, quiet way.

Missionary Hardy also personally did acts of kindness in secret. She taught her children to "never let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." She did not look for nor want the praise of men. As an honoree at the 36th Annual Service Awards Banquet of the United Baptist Missionary Convention of Maryland, Missionary Hardy was asked to give a short statement on the joy of service. She said this: The "Joy of Service" is in knowing that . . . I have - here on earth, fed the Lord, gave Him drink, visited Him, clothed Him, and took Him in. For He said "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Missionary Hardy also served in other capacities in the church, including as a no-nonsense but fair and fun Youth Advisor, a member of the Irene W. Paige Scholarship Committee, and the founding Chairperson and Director of the Drama Guild. Under Mrs. Hardy's direction, the Guild presented annual Easter Sunrise Services that brought a
new dimension of understanding to all in attendance. The Guild also brought the Word
to life through original Faith Baptist Church productions such as "The Old Ship of Zion,"
and "Men of Faith in Midnight Situations." Mrs. Hardy was one of the beloved mothers of the Paige Choraleers. She received a diploma from the Baltimore School of the Bible in 1988. Lastly, she served as Vice President of her youngest daughter's healing ministry, Jehovah Rophe Ministries, Inc.

Ella Murray-Hardy was preceded in death by her mother, youngest brother, husband, eldest daughter, and only son. She will be remembered with great love, admiration and respect in the broken but grateful hearts of: two devoted daughters - Melodye Hardy and Linda Hardy (Linda provided anointed primary care-giving services to her for 15 years); adopted daughter, Jacqueline Muldrow; three loving grandsons - Lamont Dante Hardy (who made care giving at home possible), Leon Jerome Hardy, and Willie Carter, Jr.;
five devoted granddaughters - Melanie Hardy, Jessica Jackson, ShaMia Stanley, Sydney Banks and Ja'dyn Muldrow; five great grandsons - Isaiah Hardy, Tariq Williams, Sean Murphy, Dejuan Tyree and La'thon Phillips; six great granddaughters - Maikira Hardy, Cher Monet Hardy, Arielle Pollard, Gabrielle Jackson, Amicay Carter and Zymere
Carter; brother William O. Murray (Donna); sons-in-law Fredrick Waters and Eugene Gumbs; daughter-in-law Wanda Washington; sisters-in-law Mabel Kraft, Telsie Holly, and Barbara Watson; special nephews William Murray, Jr., Rafiq Abdul-Wahiid, and Todd Johnson; niece, Darlene Street; adopted grandson, Donte Stanley; special cousin Beverly Forbes; life-long friends Grace Washington and Ruth Roundtree; many other life-long friends,and family members; and granddoggie Cupcake.