A celebration of life for Reverend Hardy Reynolds, Jr. of Talladega, 77, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 28, 2022, at Mt. Cleveland Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Jerry Jones will deliver the eulogy. Interment take place in Oak Hill Cemetery. Reverend Reynolds will lie in state at the church one hour before the service. Visitation will be from 1-7 p.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

From the beginning of my life, I had to be one to remember. I was born on January 23, 1945, in Talladega, Alabama. Now if you have not figured out what made that memorable, my birthday is 1-2-3-4-5. Easy to remember wasn’t it? I was the only son in a house full of girls. My parents were Hardy and Surloner (nèe Keith) Reynolds and they decided to name me after my father, so I became Hardy Reynolds, Jr.

Under the guidance of my parents, I became a member of Kingston Missionary Baptist Church when I was young and once I became older, I moved my membership to Mt. Cleveland Missionary Baptist Church. As I grew older and more mature, so did my knowledge and love for Christ. My work in the church led to being afforded the opportunity to become a member of the deacon board where I was not only a member, but I served as chairman. I also served as a Sunday school teacher. The Lord began to wrestle with me to the point that I was convicted and changed some of my habits. He was tugging on my heart to preach his word and I answered his call. On February 1, 2004, I received my license to preach and on July 17, 2005, I was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel. I served as an assistant pastor at Mt. Cleveland until October 4, 2008, when I was installed as the pastor of Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church where they just celebrated my 14th year of service to them. I unfortunately was unable to be present in the physical, but I was grateful for recognition that I had received while being there in spirit. Additionally, during my time as a pastor, I received further training under the leadership of the Rushing Springs District Missionary Baptist Association.

I attended school in Talladega and of course during this time our nation was still grappling with the culture of segregation. I graduated from Westside High School in 1964 and went to work at the Bemis Brothers Bag Company. Westerns were a favorite of many during my day. Some friends and I all took nicknames and I selected “The Duke” after John Wayne. During this time, the United States was entangled at the height of the Vietnam War. On September 3, 1965, I was drafted and taken to Montgomery, Alabama where I was sworn into the United States Army. During my time in the army, I was a trained marksman, received the Parachutist Badge and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. I served honorably until I was discharged from active duty on August 16, 1967, and transferred to serve in the Alabama National Guard. I continued my education at Nunnelley State Technical College and worked under the Department of Defense until retirement as a civilian at the Anniston Army Depot. Because of my time served in the military, I served as Post Commander of Amvets Post #25. I became a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge #12 and served as Exalted Ruler of College City Lodge #1171. During my free time, I enjoyed rabbit hunting often with the Racing City Hunting Club and teaching my Godsons how to hunt. In recent years, I would spend a good bit of my free time dabbling in flowers and enjoyed gardening in which I shared the fruits of my labor with many in the community. Every morning you could find me at either Huddle House, Jack’s or Tina’s Home Cooking for breakfast with my breakfast buddies and would continue my day talking and ministering to seniors at the B. N. Mabra Center. On July 2, 1983, I married the former Barbara Gould, and we remained in holy matrimony until death did we part on October 20, 2022.

My memory will be cherished most by my wife, Barbara; my special daughter, Regina (Bruce) Welch of Calhoun, Georgia; my stepdaughter, Belinda Carmichael of Jonesboro, Georgia; my two remaining sisters, Ann Mitchell and Julia Trumbo of Cleveland, Ohio; brother-in-law, Samuel Gould of Denver, Colorado; three Godchildren, Erika Terry, Cuviere Terry, Jr. and Christopher Terry; seven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. I have now reunited with my parents, Hardy and Surloner; my other four sisters, Mary Francis Carter, Catherine Harmon, Dorothea Hall and Lucy Martin; and my stepson, Pete Anthony Wallace.