Elizabeth Freeman Hardy

Elizabeth was born on February 19, 1931, in Dumas, Mississippi, to the late Hubert Whitson Freeman and Rosa Lee Freeman. She graduated from Dumas High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secretarial Science from Mississippi State College for Women. She was an avid basketball player in high school and in college. On May 4, 1952, Elizabeth married Coyt Lamar Hardy of Pleasant Ridge, Mississippi, at the Methodist Church in Dumas, Mississippi.

Her career as a legal secretary spanned 41 years for firms in Chicago, Illinois and Jackson, Mississippi. She retired from Butler Snow LLP after 32 years of service. She enjoyed gardening, reading, church activities and anything Mississippi State. She will be missed for her kindness, sense of humor and devotion to her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 50 years, Coyt Lamar Hardy; son, Michael Coyt Hardy; brothers, Milton Freeman and Herman Freeman; and nephews Gary Freeman and Jimmy Freeman. Survivors include her daughter, Karen Evans (Mike), beloved grandchildren, Mary Michael Evans and Jonathan Tucker Evans of Madison, Mississippi. She is also survived by nieces Carla Benson, Kay Clark, Connie Braddock, Sue Stokes, Carol Childs, all of Ripley, Mississippi, and Sandra Upchurch of Columbus, Mississippi as well as numerous great nieces and nephews.

Elizabeth was a long-time member of Briarwood Drive Baptist Church, Jackson, Mississippi, and for the past several years a member of First Baptist Church Madison, Madison Mississippi.

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, Mississippi with service immediately following in the chapel.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Madison, 2100 Main Street, Madison, MS 39110, or a charity of your choice.

Serving as pallbearers are Mike Evans, J.T. Evans, Ben Shannon, Kevin Dunn, Terry Jensen and Brandon Murray.