Tobe Hardin III was born October 4, 1928, to the late Tobe Hardin II and Mary Bowie-Hardin in Winnsboro, La. Tobe was one of eleven children. Growing up, he was taught at a young age how to work hard and was dependent upon by his mother and many others throughout the community to fix, repair, or build whatever simply because he was named after his father and was able to get the job done.
Tobe was a farmer also a master carpenter and cement craftsman by trade who was self-educated. He did all forms of construction and heavy equipment operation. If he couldn’t fix something or find the part, he would make it. An example of one of his craftsmanship is the street Clark Lane in Little Cypress which was a forest that he turned into a Main Street. There was nothing Tobe couldn’t accomplish once his mind was made up; it was a done deal! He was a man of means who could rise to meet the occasion.
He met the love of his life MaeBelle Spears, and they were united in a blissful holy matrimony November 6, 1948. They lived a long life together and made many precious memories along with 10 children, 31 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren. Tobe began work at the City of Orange in 1959 as a street sweeper, and he worked his way up into supervision. He was so skillful and knowledgeable that his superiors depended on him to educate them on numerous tasks. Tobe retired from the City of Orange in 1992. He was an inventor, designer, singer, and songwriter.
Tobe was an honorable man that was loved and respected by all who came in contact with him. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, licensed ordained minister, and friend. His passion was planting full gardens to feed his family, raise livestock, pigs, and cattle. He also enjoyed working on the plethora of items he collected in his yard that we all considered junk, but he found value in everything due to the fact he grew up during the Great Depression which caused him to think everything had some sort of value and could be used at some point.
The love of his life MaeBelle passed away in June of 1992. He remarried in November of 1993 to a wonderful woman by the name of Augustine who had 8 children and several grandchildren of her own.
Tobe passed away peacefully at his home on July 31, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents Tobe Hardin II and Mary Bowie- Hardin, his wives MaeBelle Hardin and Augustine Hardin, his sons Apostle P.A. (Jesse) Hardin, David Hardin, and James Hardin. Tobe was survived by his sons Minister Tobe Hardin IV (Bernadine), Elder Nathaniel Hardin, Donnie Hardin, Kenneth Hardin (Libby), and Elder Milton Hardin Sr. (Renilla), Patrick Hardin, his daughter Lisa Hardin- Venkatesan, daughter-in-law Dr. Mary F. Hardin, his siblings Leroy Hardin and Louisa Hardmon, his grandchildren, and a host of relatives.
His home going celebration is scheduled for Saturday, August 5th, 2023 at 11:00am at Power of Praise Christian Center 1311 N. 10th Street Orange, Texas 77630.
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