Jean was born on January 5, 1934, to Pinkney James and Myrtle Fallow Lucas in Swansea, South Carolina. She was one of four siblings, one brother and two sisters, one her fraternal twin.
The family grew cotton, her mother raised chickens and her father dug wells. At the age of 18, Jean moved away from the farm to the “big city” of Columbia, the capital of South Carolina. She worked at Seibel’s Bruce Group and Company as a bookkeeper and lived in the Killingsworth Home, a boarding house for single working women. There she made lasting friendships with a group of women that call themselves “The Killingsworth Girls”.
Later she was introduced to John Hardee, a pilot in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina. They fell in love, married and traveled the world with the military for 28 years. Mom’s greatest role was raising three daughters and setting up house wherever the military took her. Finding a church home was always on top of her list no matter where the Air Force sent her, such as North Carolina, South Dakota, Florida, Taiwan, New Mexico and back to Florida.
When her daughters began attending college in 1977, Jean went back to banking and customer service. She retired from banking in 1988 and began enjoying spending time with her grandchildren.
Jean loved singing in the church choir, working with the Christian Women’s Organization, supporting the youth on mission trips and later leading the College and Career Ministry with her husband. Her home was always open to a college student needing a bed for the night.
Most of all, Jean loved to entertain. Her home was always where people came for holidays and gatherings. She made it look so easy with her warm and welcoming hospitality.
She was predeceased by her brother, Adlai Lucas and sister, Rethea Lucas Dykes. She is survived by her fraternal twin sister, June Lucas Burkhalter and sister-in-law, Jackie Lucas. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Lt. Colonel John Hoyt Hardee (USAF, Retired), and daughters, Sheila Hardee Ricks (Brian), Reverend Esther Hardee Abney, Tracey Lynn Hardee; grandchildren, Megan Amanda Ricks, Sean Patrick Ricks (Kristina), Garrison Carter Abney, Seth Mathis Abney; great-grandchildren, Samuel Weston Ricks, Savannah Lauren Ricks, and Elanora Rosalie Ricks.
There will be a visitation for family and friends from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Dunbar Funeral Home, 3926 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. in Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 4170 Percival Road, Columbia, SC 29229.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to the American Cancer Society in memory of Jean Lucas Hardee.
Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.
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