Aedron Earl Hardison was born on June 2, 1937 to Katy and Luther Hardison Sr. in Jacksonville, North Carolina and passed away on March 19, 2021 in Murrieta, California. His family affectionately called him the “knee-baby” (southern term for second to the youngest child). This is a man who touched many people in his lifetime. Once you met him, you did not forget him and were happy to be in his company.

It is no surprise that Aedron’s middle name perfectly describes who he was, ‘Earl’. Earl is a rank of the noble and roughly translates to “a man of noble birth or rank”!

Aedron was a God-loving Ordained Minister, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, Cousin and Friend. He was an extremely loving Family Man and our reigning patriarch. The impact he made on our world was made even more clearly upon his passing. Even his new neighbors who had only known him for a short time were brought to tears when they found out he was now with his Lord and Savior.

Aedron enjoyed walking, bike-riding, playing horseshoes, boxing, and doing yard work. He was an avid sports fan who loved cheering on the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tiger Woods. He was a regularly active and athletic man that consistently worked out 3 days a week. To commemorate his 80th birthday, he impressed everyone by doing 80 push-ups. Two weeks before he transitioned, at 130 pounds, he flexed his tiny muscle for the visiting nurse to let her know he still had it.

 Professionally, Aedron put his underutilized artistic skills to use as a welder in the Aerospace industry for Smith Tool Company, McDonnell Douglas, and Boeing.  

A deeply religious man, he served the Lord as first a deacon and then ordained Minister. For over forty-years, he was a cherished member of The Second Baptist Church of Santa Ana, California. An avid prayer warrior Reverend Hardison also served as a masonic brother and chaplain of the Wiley L. Kimbrough Lodge #91 in Santa Ana, California while maintaining an “unofficial” jail and prison ministry mentoring, encouraging, and writing letters to incarcerated young people.

Besides serving on the ministerial staff, Minister Hardison was known to the Robert Allen Male Chorus as “Brother Voice” because when asked by the minister of music what voice part would best suit his voice, he said, “I have the voice”. He refused to limit himself to being tenor, bass, baritone, etc. and boasted that he could literally “sing any part” where harmony was required. It is no surprise that THE VOICE and AMERICAN IDOL were among his favorite shows to watch. In 2015 he was giddy over meeting Ryan Seacrest at his grandson Desmond’s American Idol audition. He adored Fantasia, often commenting, “… that child can sang”!

Words cannot convey how much Minister Hardison will be missed by those who knew and loved him.

Reverend Hardison is survived by his wife of 56-years, Artulia “Artie”, children; Cheryl Hardison, Gary Hardison & Donna Kay Roberts (son-in-love Darrell Paul Roberts); five grandchildren Anthony, Damien, Danielle, Damani and Desmond; two great-grandchildren DiMaggio and Decland; five siblings Larry, Sandra, Donald Ray, Delphine, and Luther Jr.; and countless Nieces & Nephews around the United States who adored and respected him. His mother Katy, father Luther Sr., brothers Milton and Millon, sisters Margaret and Frances preceded him in death.

We will hold services on Friday, April 16, 2021. A viewing will start at 10:00 a.m. followed by a service at 11:00 a.m. at Second Baptist Church of Santa Ana. Private interment will be held on Monday, April 19, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.