The death of Chrissy Hardy, Knollwood’s beloved and vibrant Director of Children and Family Ministry, mere weeks after her diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia was a sudden and shocking tragedy for our church family.
Chrissy grew up at Knollwood; married Robert at Knollwood; gave birth to her daughters, Clara and Eloise, enveloped by the support of Knollwood; and in 2016 answered God’s call to serve at Knollwood. She was a Knollwoodian through and through, with a seemingly boundless fountain of nurturing love focused especially on the youngest of our congregation and their families. She was determined that our young people feel fully immersed in worship, and she used her warm, welcoming, and tenacious spirit to make it so.
Her loss will continue to reverberate.
Knollwood will feel different without Chrissy. Though our grief is profound, so too is our resolve to carry on with her work and keep the Children’s Ministry to which she devoted so much passion and energy not just going but thriving. We can think of no more fitting way to honor her and everything she brought to Knollwood — and to make sure her memory and accomplishments also continue to reverberate.
Previously, she taught elementary school and worked as a consultant and adjunct professor training in-service and preservice teachers. She held a bachelor’s degree in religion and theatre from Wake Forest University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Salem College.
