FLORENCE, Ala. — Florence City Schools is mourning the loss of a longtime educator and school board member. In a statement issued Monday, school officials confirmed the passing of District 5 school board member Laura Hardeman.
"Known for her kind and positive spirit, Hardeman leaves a legacy that goes beyond the classroom," the statement said.
That legacy spanned four decades, school officials said, with Hardeman spending the past 15 years as a member of the school board.
"For some people, education is more than a job; for Laura Hardeman, it was a part of her way of life," Superintendent Dr. Jimmy Shaw said. "She gave as a teacher; she gave to the children, the community, and this town for most of her adult life, and we'll be forever grateful for that."
During her time on the board, Hardeman had involvement in overseeing the building and completion of Florence Middle School, the establishment of the Florence Academy of Fine Arts, and the founding of the W.C. Handy Early Childhood Development Center.
A cause of death was not stated. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
