The Honorable Marcus Jerome Hardy was born on Friday, April 10, 1970 in Crescent City, FL to Goler Berkley Hardy and Jary Dean (Bush) Hardy. At an early age, Marcus accepted Christ as his personal Saviour, was baptized and became a member of The House of God, Which is the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth Without Controversy, Inc., Keith Dominion, Crescent City. During the season of time Marcus spent serving in the House of God Church, he developed a special love for the steel guitar. His beloved aunt, Deaconess Nazaree Batts (1916-2013) paid for guitar lessons to ensure development of his musical talent. Marcus was a member of Victory Worship Center, under the leadership of Apostle Lillian Tuggerson, where he faithfully served with the music ministry and often assisted with the youth teenagers ministry. As a current member of New Destiny Community Church (Deland, FL), he served faithfully under the leadership of the Bishop, Dr. T. L. Jackson. Marcus was a very active church member who served in numerous ministries, especially as a leader within the music ministry. He will be forever remembered as a devoted community leader and family man who loved music, barbecuing, and improving the quality of life for his neighborhood, community, city and church.

Marcus was educated in the Putnam County School District and a 1988 graduate of Crescent City High School. Throughout his school career, Marcus participated in the marching band (during middle school), football, and track & field teams. Marcus' industrious work ethic launched him into a leadership role on the track & field team, where he set the school track record (49.5) in the 440 yard run during his senior year in high school. Marcus earned an athletic scholarship for Track & Field at South Carolina State University. He was a highly-respected member of the SCSU Bulldog Track & Field team where he excelled, and he set an unprecedented record when he met the love of his life, the former Kimyetta L. Knox (also a member of the Bulldog Track & Field Team). He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at South Carolina State University, Class of 1994 in Criminal Justice. Marcus returned to Putnam County (Crescent City) and subsequently gained employment with the State of Florida, Department of Corrections, as both a Corrections Officer and Senior Classification Officer at Putnam Correctional Institution in East Palatka and Tomoka Correctional Institution in Daytona Beach, respectively until 2010. Marcus subsequently pursued certification in Cosmetology at Daytona State College (Class of 2011). He initially worked his first year at Chuck's Barbershop in Crescent City under the master barber mentorship of Mr. Chuck Forman. He consequently purchased the barber shop facility, naming his business, "Unik Kuts". In 2012, he decided to accept a school bus driver position with the Putnam County School District.

As a faithful servant to the city of Crescent City, he served on the CRA Advisory Committee prior to being elected as a city commissioner in 2015. He was also helpful in the revitalization of the Harry Banks Community Park, especially the softball field. Once Marcus was an elected official, he became a motivated leader who served on the Broadband Internet Committee and was among the leadership team that updated playground equipment for Eva Lyons Park and the Harry Banks Community Park, as well as the restructuring of the gazebo in Eva Lyons Park. In November, 2018 he was appointed by the President of the Florida League of Cities to serve as an "At-Large member of the 2018 Legislative Committee" as well as the "2018-2019 Transportation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee". He was a member of Spring Hill Lodge #65 F. & A.M., Deland; Concerned Citizens of South Putnam, and Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, he invested time and patience as a mentor and leader for Boyz II Men, (a mentoring organization for young men in South Putnam.) Marcus was a visionary who was always willing to pursue new ideas to bring back to the city in hopes of making Crescent City a better place to live.  His proudest moments were realized while organizing and assisting with the community food drive at Howe Memorial United Methodist Church.

FOUNDER OF SACRED STEEL
Marcus' love for music enabled him to bring Sacred Steel players from the Keith and Jewel Dominion churches of The House of God together to share their love for God while showcasing their musical gifts with each other. He went on to establish the first Sacred Steel Convention the weekend of March 31-April 1, 2000, at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL. With assistance from Bob Stone, Arhoolie Records, The Folk Alliance, Alvin Lee, and many others, the "Sacred Steel Music" was shared with the world in the form of documentaries, CD's, and countless articles. He later hosted two other conventions in Sanford (2001) and Orlando, FL (2002).

Preceding Marcus in death are his paternal grandparents, Noah and Sarah Hardy; maternal grandparents, Jeramiah and Katie Mae Bush; brother, Goler Hardy, Jr.; sister, Dwala Hardy; nephew, Darius Edwards.

Marcus Jerome Hardy answered "the eternal call" from the Almighty at 5:30 p.m., on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at UF Health Shands Medical Center in Gainesville, FL.

Those left to cherish the precious memories of Marcus: devoted wife, Kimyetta; daughters, Arianna, Alyssia, and Aniya; grandson, Kylan; parents, Goler and Jary Hardy; siblings, Carla Bush (Lawrence), Questies (Cherise) Hardy, All of Crescent City, FL. Rene Williams, Gainesville, FL. Brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Daryl and William Knox, Niketa (Norman) Boswell, Detroit, MI; special godson, Rashaan Mims, Gainesville, FL, and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.