Biography: Shirley Jean Ward Hardin passed away June 2, 2021, at Little Rock, Arkansas.  Shirley lived an exceptional life.  She often said she was married to her best friend. She and James B. Hardin were married for 55 years until his death in 2017.  She also dearly loved and cared for her two children, grandson, siblings, and a throng of friends—all to whom she was committed, loyal and supportive.

Shirley grew up in Bee Branch, Arkansas to loving parents and spent her early years working on the family farm and helping raise her younger siblings.  She left Bee Branch for Conway and the Arkansas State Teachers’ College (now UCA) where she met James and married.  Shirley was progressive in thought and lived accordingly.  She never forgot her modest upbringing and was socially aware.  She once told her daughter Kelli Anne, that if she had not married her father, she would have joined the Freedom Riders in the South and advocated for equal and civil rights for all.   She was fearless and determined to venture out of her comfort zone.  She became a certified Pharmacy Technician while in mid-life with two teen children.  She worked for many years at NLR’s Baptist Memorial Hospital.  She was never shy about her health care background, albeit brief; she welcomed requests for medical advice and happily provided generous amounts--like it or not.  Shirley was a conversationalist—Ok, to be truthful, she was a “talker.”  She had and would freely offer a lengthy opinion on any issue. 

Shirley was conscientious and easily approachable.  She valued inclusiveness and was special to many and we all naturally gravitated to her. Words that summed up Shirley Jean are strong, resilient, and stubborn.  She beamed with pride when someone asked about her children, Kelli and Scott, or her grandson, Graham.  She acquired a special love for tennis and would watch day and night.  She read constantly and especially loved a good biography of an interesting person.  Other loves were movies, flower arranging, the beach, casinos, and the Arkansas Razorbacks.  

Shirley was born June 25, 1941, to John Richard Ward and Bertha Alma Graham Ward.  Shirley is survived by her daughter Kelli Ann Granberry (Mark) of Little Rock, son James Scott Hardin (Page) of Bentonville, grandson Samuel Graham Hardin of Bentonville, sisters Patti Capps and Linda Winfrey, brother Rick Ward and numerous nieces and nephews. 

All are welcome to join the family in an informal celebration of life on June 15 from 5pm-7pm at the Lakewood Activity Center, 4500 Lakeshore Drive, North Little Rock.  Flowers for the event can be delivered C/O Kelli Granberry, 123 Linwood Court, Little Rock, AR 72205, on June 14.