Elra Hardaway

Elra Hardaway was born on August 23, 1924 in Columbus,
Georgia. He was the last of sixteen children born to John and
Henrietta Hardaway. Both his parents and siblings preceded
him in death.

Elra accepted Christ at an early age at the Prospect AME
Church in Harris County, Georgia. He also attended the Harris
County School system.

During the war he met and married Vivian from St. Louis,
Missouri. No children were born to this union. Vivian preceded
him in death.

In 1942, after the War, he relocated to Detroit, Michigan
where he worked and retired from the General Motors Chevy
Plant.

Elra attended the Church of Israel where he was a Deacon
and sang in a gospel quartet. He would often take his nieces and
nephews to hear him sing. Although he stuttered when he talked,
he sang like an angel!

Later he met and married Ann Jordan. Elra accepted her son
Mickey as his own. Both Ann and Mickey preceded him in death.

In the early 1970s, Elra met and married Arlene. One
child, Robert Hardaway, was born to this union when Elra was
51 years old.

For over 35 years Elra has been with his love Fannie
Townsend. Together they raised her four children, David, Nate,
Cynthia and Angie.

As Elra grew older he appointed his great-nephew, Kenneth
Hardaway as guardian over his affairs. When his health declined,
his step-grandchildren, Alexis, Andrea and Heaven cared for him
in his illness until his transition.

Elra always had plenty of stories! He loved to laugh and
to make you laugh. Elra also was very eager to cook B-B-Q at
family reunions.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his only son, Robert; a
loving mate, Fannie; four stepchildren, David, Nate, Cynthia and
Angie; three step-grandchildren, Alexis, Andrea and Heaven.
He also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.