Bro. Sammy Hardin, 80
March 23, 1945 – May 11, 2025
PLANTERSVILLE – Joe Samuel “Sammy Hardin died Sunday, May 11, 2025 from his Plantersville residence after a period of declining health due to heart failure. He was 80 years old. Sammy felt sure he was going in the “rapture,” but his Lord had a different idea. Born in Tupelo on March 23, 1945, he was the son of the late Joe Hardin and Icie Lou “Lucy” Weeks Hardin. Sammy graduated from Shannon High School in 1963. Taking his personality from his mother, Lucy, Sammy enjoyed life to the fullest and squeezed every drop of love, laughter and fulfillment out of it and was a natural born unique personality. He spent his first phase of his working life with Mid South Packers in the Shipping and Handling Department until they closed their doors. He then owned his own roofing company and, for 15 years, he worked with the Lee County 4th District Road Maintenance Department where he was a beloved employee. Feeling the call to preach, Sammy spent 22 years as pastor of the New Parkersburg Baptist Church north of Houston. The last six years, he has been the pastor of the Pontocola Baptist Church where he shepherded his parishioners with solid gospel preaching, good humor and an above average understanding of human nature. A “jack of all trades,” there was little Sammy couldn’t do with his hands and steely work ethic. He loved dearly the soil and was a great steward of the farm he owned in Plantersville. He could grow anything: prized tomatoes and other vegetables, raise all kinds of animals including peacocks, rabbits, hogs, horses and chickens, among other species. His woodworking shop produced many special items, especially kitchen tables. Sammy loved nothing better than for his many friends to stop by his barn, chew the fat and catch up on current events. A born talker, he never met a stranger and was interested in justice and equality for all mankind. His purpose-filled life will long be remembered by his family and thousands of friends.
A service celebrating his life will be held at 2 PM Thursday, May 15, 2025, from the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Bro. Parish Hartley officiating assisted by Bro. Billy Thorn. Burial will follow in Lee Memorial Park in Verona. Visitation will be from 4 PM-7 PM Wednesday and from Noon-service time Thursday, all at Holland-Tupelo Chapel which is honored to be serving their friends and neighbors. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/live-streaming at 2 PM Thursday and will be permanently archived thereafter.
Bro. Sammy is survived by his wife of 60 years, Melva Gillis Hardin, to whom he was married in Sulligent, Ala. on Jan. 29, 1965; his daughters, Denise Causey of Becker and Angelia Sawyer (Chris) of Carolina Community and Tim Causey of Becker; his grandchildren, Austin Causey (Halei Causey), Eli Causey (Tristin Clark), and Bailey White (Ben); his great-grandchildren, Bentley White, Addie Causey, and Averie due in September 2025; a brother, Paul Hardin (Brenda) of Shannon; special friends, Mayor Shelton Shannon and James Montgomery, and his Gillis family from his marriage to Melva. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Hardin and Lucy Barber, and two sisters, Mary and Martha.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Raines, Mike Sherfield, Eli Causey, Austin Causey, Paul Wade Hardin and Jimmy Rutherford. Honorary pallbearers will be men of Pontocola Baptist Church and Glenell Weeks and Jamie Rogers. Memorials may be sent to Montana Missions, c/o Brother Parish Hartley, PO Box 72, Vardaman, MS 38878-0072.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
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