Patricia Hardy

The Rev. Patricia J. (Joyce) Hardy, who taught junior high school 10 years in Pryor, OK, and found her calling as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church in Arkansas, has died. Rev. Hardy was born and raised in Pryor, graduated from Pryor High School and received degrees from the University of Arkansas and Northeastern State College. She taught in Pryor Junior High and later at Holland Hall Preparatory School, Tulsa, OK. Before going to Holland Hall, she was ordained a Deacon in the Episcopal Church.

Joyce was the daughter of Dale and Reba Hardy, Pryor. She was born in Pryor on Aug. 1, 1951. She graduated from Pryor High School in 1969. She attended the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and graduated with a BS degree in English and Social Studies in 1973. She came to Pryor Junior High as social studies teacher in 1975, and later taught English. In 1985 she became Middle School chaplain and began a four-year stint of teaching English at Holland Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa. Her ordination as a Deacon was at St. Martin of Tours Church in Pryor in August of that same year. Her Master of Education degree was conferred at Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK in 1989.

Joyce was eulogized by the Rev. Larry Benfield, Episcopal Bishop of Arkansas.
"Joyce found her calling as a deacon, and I will miss continuing to be inspired by her exemplary life of service," he said. "What I will remember most about Joyce is that she was the best advocate for the poor of almost anyone I have met. The very people whom society often tends to hide or forget about-well, they were the people who were first and foremost in Joyce's life. Few people have lived more fully the sort of life that Jesus held up, when he said, " . . . I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me' "
During her time at Holland Hall, Joyce was described as a "political activist of the highest order".

She was predeceased by her parents and a sister, Barbara Gayle Hardy.

Joyce began her service as Deacon as an assistant at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Grove, OK. After her service at Holland Hall, she was assistant at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Sand Springs, OK, and at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Fayetteville, AR.

She became Deacon in 1992 at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, Little Rock, and served four years at Celebration Ministries and St. Frances House, Little Rock, two social outreach programs. While serving as Deacon at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Little Rock, she was elevated to the post of Archdeacon of the Diocese of Arkansas in 2001, a post she held for seven years.

In 2006, she was appointed Province VII Clergy Representative to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church USA, New York, NY, and also was part of the Arkansas Death Penalty Moratorium Campaign in Little Rock. From 2005 until her death, she was Deacon at Christ Episcopal Church, Little Rock.

Her other involvements included Board of Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Association for Episcopal Deacons, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation, Episcopal Church Women, and Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas Executive Council.

She will be remembered with an inscription on the memorial wall at Christ Church. Celebrations of her life will be held in Little Rock and Pryor at later dates. Memorials in her honor may be sent to Green Groceries Program in care of Christ Episcopal Church, 509 Scott Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. Joyce supported the program passionately. It partners with Arkansas Local Food Network to hand out fresh local foods to households in need and supports local farmers, too.

Her funeral service will be live streamed from Christ Episcopal Church on Saturday, May 30 at 1:00 p.m. Visit www.christchurchlr.org to connect by the church Facebook page or YouTube channel.

Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200.