Dedicated educator, public servant, father and husband
Larry Avon Hardison was a dedicated educator, public servant, father and husband. He passed from this world peacefully on April 25, 2022, in Wilmington, NC.
Larry was born December 15, 1939 in Jacksonville, NC to Luther Thomas Hardison and Katie Belle Jones. After completing high school, he received his Bachelor’s degree from Hampton University in Hampton, VA, and went on to gain a Masters in Education at Boston State College and enter a PhD program in special education at Boston University.
His long career in education also included positions as teacher, principal, assistant headmaster, and basketball coach at schools including Manville School (part of The Judge Baker Children’s Center in Boston), Boston Latin Academy, and the Florence, SC, public school system. He served as Executive Director at The Gifford School in Weston, MA, and was Director of the Weston Metco Program, a voluntary desegregation program bringing K-12 students from Boston to schools in Weston.
Larry enjoyed gardening, cooking, playing tennis, bicycling, and spending time with his children and his boat. He was an active member of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Boston.
After retiring from teaching 2003, he returned to North Carolina and built his dream house a stone’s throw from the ocean. His concern for environmental and civic issues led him to serve as Selectman and Mayor Pro Tem of North Topsail Beach. He returned to his family’s spiritual home of many generations at Evening View Missionary Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his son Charles, siblings Milton, Millon, Aedron, Frances, and Martha. He is survived by his first wife Adlene, his second wife Marie, daughters LaVon and Ka-Leen, granddaughter Kalie Divine, and siblings Sandra, Delphine, Donald Ray, and Luther Jr.
To honor his memory, please consider donating to Hampton University.
