State Rep. G.A. Hardaway, 71, died on Friday after an illness. Here, his longtime colleague and friend, Van Turner, reflects on Hardaway’s legacy.
It’s about 5 a.m. one Monday morning when my phone rings. Tammie, my wife, hollers out, “Who in the world is calling you this early in the morning?” I grab my phone, and I say, “Oh, it’s G.A.” This was normal.
G.A. always wanted to catch me before my day started. He totally dispelled the notion that while we slept, the ones who would roll back our progress were up plotting. G.A. was up at night as well, planning how to counteract them.
His impact was built on his deep community roots, tireless advocacy, persistence, and mentorship of young leaders. We can all take inspiration from how he fought for justice as we engage in future fights without him.
G.A. consistently focused on representing underserved communities, especially in Memphis and his beloved Orange Mound. His work often centered on improving access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities. His constituents trusted him to ensure their concerns were reflected in state policy because he was always fighting for their interests.
Over his tenure in the Tennessee General Assembly, G.A. sponsored and supported numerous bills while working with such organizations such as the NAACP, SCLC and PUSH. This would become his calling card. Even when facing opposition, he persisted and reintroduced and refined legislation until it gained traction. G.A. never shied away from a fight, and he never gave up once he was in the fight.
Examples of impactful legislation that G.A. passed include: The Tennessee Rural and Workforce Housing Act (HB1046), which expanded development of affordable and workforce housing; a bill supporting property tax payment flexibility (HB2312), which allowed partial payments of delinquent property taxes for homeowners struggling to pay; a financial exploitation reporting law (HB1248), which enables banks and financial institutions to report suspected exploitation of elderly or vulnerable adults; legislation requiring intervention meetings for struggling students (HB2326); and The African American Cultural and Historical Grant Act (HB0686) (co-sponsored), which funds preservation of Black historical sites and culture.
Perhaps G.A.’s greatest legacy was his mentorship of those behind him. When I first entered politics, G.A. sat me down over coffee. He looked me directly in the eyes and gave me the greatest political lesson that I have received to date: “Young man, always keep your political, professional, and private lives separate — that’s the only way you stay sane!”
This advice has stuck with me throughout my professional career, and I dare say, kept me out of a lot of turmoil and trouble. G.A. never told younger politicians that it was not our turn or to take a back seat and wait. He molded us. He taught us. He politely chastised us when necessary, and challenged us to do better — to be better. He was the political father and mentor that we never had — but sorely needed.
Now, we are faced with many ongoing challenges without the benefit of G.A.’s leadership. Legislation to take over Memphis-Shelby County Schools. There is an ongoing legal battle involving the National Guard in Memphis. ICE is targeting immigrants, separating families, and holding children in detention centers with no bond.
We all must ask ourselves, what would G.A. do? How would he address these issues? I think I have an idea. He would stay up all night plotting, planning, reading and studying, and then he would call first thing in the morning.
He would lay out a plan, assign responsibilities, demand action, and set a time for us to report on our progress. He would line up lawyers for legal action. He would already have three or four versions of legislation drafted to address the problem. He would call on his corporate friends to make sure they had talking points for the boardrooms and ballrooms.
G.A. would not wait on the calvary; he would be the calvary! That was G.A. Hardaway. That was my friend and mentor. That’s the example we should follow now. Plan. Act. Resist and persist.
Rest in power and peace, my dear brother. Your legacy will live on!
Attorney Van Turner currently serves as vice president of supplier and community relations at Regional One Health and is a founder member of Turner Feild, PLLC law firm. He is a former County Commission chair and former president of the NAACP Memphis Branch.
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