Barbara Jean Hardaway was born in Sanford, Florida to the late Jimmy Lee Henry and Ethel Mae Henry (Lemon) on June 12, 1938. Barbara was one of six children. Barbara was educated between Sanford and Tampa Florida where she spent most of her childhood years with her parents and grandparents.

Barbara met and married Johnny F. Hardaway, and moved to Rochester, New York to raise their seven children: Johnny F. Hardaway Jr., Shirley Ann Hardaway, Jonathan Trent Hardaway, Martin Lee Hardaway, Karen Marie Hardaway, Alphonso Jerome Hardaway, and Renee Etta Hardaway.

Barbara was passionate about helping others and spent many years working as a nursing assistant at St. Ann’s Nursing Home until 1978 when she landed a job at Eastman Kodak Co. where she retired from in 1998.

Barbara was surrogate mother to many and enjoyed getting together with family for holidays and caring for her grandchildren. She also enjoyed traveling and fishing. Her hobbies included taking ceramic classes, and knitting.
Barbara’s strength and perseverance is unmatched as she “fought the good fight! She was called home on Thursday, March 14, 2019 after a long battle with heart and kidney failure. She crossed over peacefully in her sleep.

Barbara will be deeply missed. She was predeceased by her ex-husband, Johnny F. Hardaway, daughter Shirley Ann, sons Jonathan Trent, Martin Lee, and granddaughter London Denise Blue. She leaves to cherish an abundance of great memories: Brothers Jimmy Lee Henry Jr. (AnnieMae), Eugene Henry (JohnnyMae), Timothy Henry, and sister Elouise Williams. She will also be sorely missed by her children: Johnny Frank Jr., Karen Marie Hardaway-Blanding (Eddie), Alphonso Jerome Hardaway (Augustina), Renee Etta Hardaway, eighteen grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 11:00AM to 1:00PM at Genesis Baptist Church, 292 Hudson Avenue where funeral services will be held at 1PM following calling hours. Interment Riverside Cemetery.