Laverne Whiteside Hardin

and DeLand, Florida died at her home in DeLand September 19, 2016. Born in White Plains,

Alabama, she was a true daughter of the south, with a gracious, positive and inquiring spirit;

living life to the fullest for 95 years. She was much loved by all that knew her.

She retired from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers with twenty years of Federal Service. She

then attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando, earning a BA and MA degree in Art.

She taught art at Brevard Community College in the 1970’s and 80’s. She was a gifted artist in

varied media.

LaVerne was the widow of Donald W. Hardin and is survivied by her four children; JoAnn H.

Morgan, Jean Helms, Jerry W. Hardin, and James K. Hardin. Other survivors include six

grandchildren and five great grand children.

A private service will be directed by the Gray Brown Funeral Home of Anniston on October 2,

2016 at her family cemetery in White Plains, Alabama.

She had a passion for family history, and a love of travel. She traveled many times to England,

Ireland and Scotland, and Europe to research her genealogy. She kept meticulous handwritten

records. She toured Japan and China for special art study. In recent years, she toured the

national parks in the seven western states as well as Western Canada, and enjoyed visiting one

of her daughters in Montana each summer for the last twelve years.

For many years LaVerne was an active participant in the Roots and Branches Genealogical

Society of West Volusia County; Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), two chapters;

and the Museum of Art.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Colonel Arthur Erwin Chapter

Daughters of the American Revolution, DeLand, Florida; The Indian River Daughters of the

American Revolution,Titusville, Florida; The Guild of the Museum of Art, DeLand, Florida; or the

First Methodist Church of Titusville, Florida