Chrissy Davis Hardy

Chrissy Davis Hardy passed away June 20, 2023, at the age of 42.

Chrissy lived life fully, passionately, and vividly. She did not do things halfway. Chrissy loved hard and worked hard. She found joy all around her, whether it be in a well-framed photograph, a corner piece of cake, or a perfectly planned itinerary. She made friends everywhere she went, valued her friendships immensely, and expressed gratitude to God every day for her blessings.

Chrissy was born on April 30, 1981 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Mary Ann Campbell Davis and Harry Lee Davis, Jr. Her maternal instinct showed itself early through her dedicated care of her beloved Cabbage Patch Kid dolls. She demonstrated a love of performance in the dynamic stories she told around the dinner table. Her strong faith took root through many years spent as a child and youth at Knollwood Baptist Church and Camp Crestridge for Girls. Chrissy graduated in 1999 from Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, and her high school bedroom was decorated with layers of playbills, posters, and photographs from the many shows she had performed in or attended. Upon graduation, she attended Wake Forest University.

During her years at Wake Forest, she cultivated a loyal friend group whose relationships would continue long into adulthood. Chrissy graduated from Wake Forest University in 2003 with a double major in religion and theatre. She then returned to the camp world as crafts director at Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, where she met her future husband, Robert Hardy. She and Robert married on June 14, 2008. They shared a deep love that carried them through times of crisis and brought them laughter and hope.

One of Chrissy’s many gifts was teaching, and she spent six years teaching elementary school in Davie County while earning a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Salem College. After she left the classroom, Chrissy continued to use her creativity and teaching skills as an educational consultant and adjunct professor, helping teachers reflect upon and improve their classroom practices. 

In 2010, Chrissy and Robert learned that they were expecting a baby girl who would be born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. After receiving this diagnosis, Chrissy started a blog in which she chronicled her medical journey. Chrissy’s vulnerable words and steady faith connected her with a wide community of readers, some of whom never met Chrissy, but were inspired and moved by her writing. Her daughter Clara Mae Hardy was born on March 23, 2011, and her second daughter Eloise Ann Hardy was born on May 20, 2014. Chrissy was so thankful to be a mother and absolutely adored her girls. She delighted in making memories through cooking, crafting, birthday celebrations, and snuggling with their dogs Rufus and Otis. She especially loved planning detailed trips for her family and sharing all things Disney with them. She poured herself into motherhood with her whole heart, and she was so very proud of her daughters.

In 2016, Chrissy became the Director of Children and Family Ministry at Knollwood Baptist Church, the church she had grown up in. A driven and imaginative leader, Chrissy fostered community among families with children and across the entire congregation. Her elaborately planned events and her own deep faith supported others' spiritual development and commitment. With her big smile and all-embracing arms, Chrissy excelled at nurturing loving relationships that resonated within the church and beyond.

Chrissy’s recent diagnosis with acute myeloid leukemia came as a surprise to her and her family, yet she approached her hospitalization and treatment with the same fierce tenacity that she approached the rest of her life. She continued working and planning from her hospital bed, and blogged daily about her fears, hopes, blessings, and frustrations. Once again, her words captivated a vast audience, and her spirit will continue to inspire and encourage for years to come.

Chrissy is survived by her husband, Robert; her daughters, Clara and Eloise; her parents, Mary Ann Davis and Lee Davis; her brother, Trey Davis; and numerous other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on Friday, June 23 at Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. The service will live-streamed at https://www.knollwood.org/events/memorial-chrissy-hardy. Memorial donations may be made to Knollwood Baptist Church at https://www.knollwood.org or to the Hardy family GoFundMe account at https://gofund.me/52a2ab3b.