Holy Family Catholic Church of Natchez held a farewell celebration for Lt. Col. Andrell Hardy who is shipping out overseas on deployment for two years.

Flanked by his wife Neifa and their children, the church family gathered to send him off in grand fashion.

The family moved to Natchez in 2015 from South Korea. Andrell Hardy is a professor of Military Science at Alcorn State University and is over the ROTC program. Andrell Hardy has been in the military for 19 years, during that time his family has picked up and moved several times.

“This is our way of life, this is what we do,” Neifa Hardy said. “This is the first time we’re actually going to stay because we enjoy Natchez and have a business here.”

Neifa Hardy said she would stay in Natchez with the children while they enroll in Cathedral School next year and take care of their business, Helping Hands Counseling. 

Andrell Hardy will be in Kathmandu, Nepal, and through the summer stationed in Savannah, Georgia.

“Natchez Is a family orientated environment,” Andrell Hardy said, adding it has been hard on their children, picking up and moving but that they have become resilient.

“Holy Family, they’ve embraced us. They’ve adopted us. I think they’ve helped our kids grow and develop into positive young men and women. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Andrell Hardy said he was sad to leave, but it gives him some peace of mind knowing his family will be taken care of when he’s gone.

Editor’s note: The above story published in the April 28 edition incorrectly stated the rank of Andrell Hardy. Hardy is a Lieutenant Colonel. We regret the error and are glad to set the record straight.