Democratic Memphis lawmaker G.A. Hardaway died Friday morning, the day after the Tennessee General Assembly gaveled out for the year.
Hardaway was 71.
His family announced in a press release that Hardaway died from a brief illness at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. On Thursday evening, the final day of the 2026 session of the 114th General Assembly, the House honored Hardaway with a resolution, noting his “honorable and distinguished service as a member of the House of Representatives."
Hardaway served in the legislature for 19 years.
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“Today is a deeply painful day for me personally and for our entire caucus,” says state House Minority Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis) in a statement. “G.A. Hardaway was more than a colleague. He was a dear friend, a trusted confidant, and a steady presence in my life and in the work we shared. G.A. had a way about him that you cannot teach. He was strong but gentle, firm in his convictions yet kind in his spirit. He carried the weight of this work with grace, and he never forgot where he came from or whom he was sent here to serve. I leaned on him more times than I can count, and I know so many others did too.”
The Tennessee Democratic Party also expressed its condolences. Hardaway served as the chair of the Shelby County Legislative Democratic Caucus and was the former chair of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators.
“For years, state Rep. G.A. Hardaway served with integrity, fighting to ensure every Tennessean had a voice in their government,” TNDP chair Rachel Campbell says in a statement. “His legacy is defined not only by his leadership in the legislature, but by the way he showed up for his community each and every day. He led with heart, treated everyone with dignity, and never lost sight of who he was fighting for. We are sending our deepest condolences to his loved ones, community, and the constituents of House District 93 during this terribly difficult time. His loss will be felt deeply across Tennessee, and his legacy will continue to inspire the work ahead.”
"Rep. Hardaway was a highly respected leader and a dedicated community servant," says state House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) in a statement. "He was a man of deep faith, always showed grace and never turned away from an opportunity to be someone’s mentor or offer advice. He left a lasting impression on all who knew him. We will truly miss him. My prayers are with his family and the entire Memphis community during this difficult time."
Hardaway’s family has requested privacy and will announce services as soon as they are finalized.
