MOUNTAIN VIEW — Virginia Lee Hardison
was born November 25, 1927, and passed away November 24, 2021, in Calico Rock, Ark., with her sons by her side.
Virginia was born at her family’s home at 4420 Pike Avenue in Levy, Ark. (present day North Little Rock), and was delivered by her maternal grandmother Callie Younger Russell. Her early life in Levy included her and her sister Rama singing and performing as the “Brown Sisters” on the Rex Humbard radio show in the 1930s. She had a strong musical background and played several instruments including piano, guitar, and accordion. She later joined the Memphis University Singers and toured Europe singing around Austria and Germany as part of the world renowned Helbran Salzburg, Austria, Music Festival.
She is the last surviving member of the Class of 1946 North Little Rock High School (also known as “Ole Main”) and attended Memphis State University. While visiting her sister in San Diego, Calif., she met Samuel Hardison, whom she married in 1953. They would move to Memphis, Tenn., where she worked as a bookkeeper at Hull Dobbs Ford while Sam attended dental school at the University of Tennessee. They both developed a passion for aviation and purchased the Arlington, Tenn., airport, which Virginia ran while Sam worked as a maxillofacial oral surgeon and served 46 years in the U.S. Navy. Later, Virginia worked in real estate, and ran the office of her husband’s dental practice.
She loved her church family and was involved with the Presbyterian Women’s Association at Woodland Presbyterian Church, where she was a member for over 50 years. She served as a troop leader for Girls Scouts of America, and as Secretary and President of the Memphis Dental Auxiliary. She moved to Mountain View in Stone County, Ark., in 2016, enjoying life on the White River with the sounds of nature and the passing train.
She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Rose Brown; mother, Mada Russell Brown; her loving husband of 52 years, Samuel Hardison Sr.; her sister, Rama Faye Burks; great-grandsons, Chase Caudle, Cole Caudle, and Christopher Sullivan; and son-in-law, Jim “Cal” Campbell.
Virginia is survived by her daughters Judith Carol “Judy” Hardison of Cabot, Ark., and Virginia Lee “Ginger” Quarry of Memphis, Tenn.; sons Samuel H. “Beau” Hardison, Jr and wife Freda of Mountain View, Ark., and Leonard Edward “Len” Hardison and wife Erin of Germantown, Tenn. She is also survived by grandchildren, Tara Denton, Shannon Denton, Jason Pruss, Stephan Pruss, Jon Quarry, and Samantha Hardison; and great-grandchildren, Blake Denton and Cassidy Caudle.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, December 1st at 12 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home, with a graveside service to follow at 2 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in her honor to Woodland Presbyterian Church (5217 Park Ave, Memphis Tenn. 38119) or St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, Tenn. 38119. (901) 767-8930.