Joe Ralph Hardiman was born January 21, 1943 in Grenada, MS. He attended Carrie Dotson High School. In 1966, the family relocated to Gary, Indiana. He was a former employee of American Steel Foundries, Laidlaw Bus Company, and U.S. Steel Corporation. He was a member of Abundant Life Missionary Baptist Church.
His loved ones called him Dada, Grandpa, PaPa, Big Daddy, Ralph and Uncle Ralph. Some of his favorite sayings were “Y’all Alright”, “Do you need anything”, “I just want everybody to be alright.”
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Claude, Sr. and Alma Hardiman; brother, Claude Hardiman, Jr.; sisters, Betty Jean James and Emma Jean Redditt; and former wife, Virginia M. Hardiman of Gary, IN.
He is survived by daughters Linda (Ronald) Griffin, Sandra (Joseph) Coburn, Syretta Hardiman all of Gary, IN; Chiquita Walls of Oxford, MS, Sharde (Tony) McFarland of Indianapolis, IN; one son, Gregory Hardiman of Gary; grandchildren; Keyaira, Keith, Dominique (Imari), Deja, and Joseph all of Gary, Constance Willis of Calhoun City, MS, Candayce Willis-Howard of Memphis, TN; great –grandchildren, James, Harmony, De’mia, Kaylonni, Jimmy all of Gary, Kathryn of Memphis, TN, Raivyn, Madysin, Alliesyn all of Calhoun City, MS; sister, Alice (Billy) Hawkins of Gary, IN; brother-in-law, Theo Redditt of Grenada, MS; sister-in-law, Theresa Hardiman of Gary, IN and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
