Oakland

Mitch Hardin Jr, 81

Published

8 years ago

April 10, 2018

Mitchell Hardin, Jr. passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Fremont, CA on April 5, 2018 at the age of 81.

Born in El Paso, Texas, Hardin attended Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles, CA. After graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 17. He received an Honorable Discharge.

He relocated to Oakland, CA in 1970. He attended Lone Mountain College in San Francisco, CA, and later San Jose State University where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in community development with emphasis on Urban Development.

Hardin was a beloved member of his community. He had a stellar career in Land Developing and Project Managing.

Hardin became involved in low income housing owned by non-profit organizations such as Model Cities, Irene Cooper, Oak Center, Evergreen, OCHI, WOMAC, and ACORN, just to name a few. He was a consultant to Clear Channel. He helped design and implement bus shelters for the City of Oakland.

Hardin’s favorite past times included politics and sports, basketball, football, boxing, and track and field. He enjoyed watching CNN, CNBC, and MSNBC and old-fashioned cowboy movies in black and white.
He is survived by his wife, Janet L. Hardin, sister Annie Mae Burnley of Los Angeles, CA, and daughters, Alve M. Hardin-Tolliver of Los Angeles, CA, Candice Carter-Hardin of Pittsburg, CA, sons Allen M. Hardin and Mitch Hardin, Jr., Markel Abram and Jory Belton of Oakland CA, nephew James Burnley of Panorama City, CA, nieces Annette Burnley and April Williams of Los Angeles, CA, brother-in-law Dion Ross of Oakland, CA and a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Friends and family are invited to his celebration of life at the Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA for a viewing, and quiet hour on Thursday, April 12 from 5 PM to 8 PM.

Funeral services will be at Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church, 408 W. MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland, CA, on Friday April 13, 2018 at 11 AM.

The family request in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Khadafy Foundation of Non-violence@khadafywashington.org.

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

IN MEMORIAM: Longtime OUSD Employee Debra King-Cooper, 73

Longtime OUSD Employee Debra King-Cooper, 73 Caption: Debra King-Cooper. Courtesy photo. Special to The Post Debra King-Cooper, a beloved mother, grandmother, queen, sister, church member, caregiver, and matriarch, transitioned peacefully on May 20 surrounded by family and love i

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

bpusa-syndication

Debra King-Cooper. Courtesy photo.

Special to The Post

Debra King-Cooper, a beloved mother, grandmother, queen, sister, church member, caregiver, and matriarch, transitioned peacefully on May 20 surrounded by family and love in the comfort of her home. To her children, she was royalty, grace, strength, and unconditional love embodied.

Debra Diane Edgar was born on May 28, 1952, in San Francisco, California, to Charles Edgar Sr. and Mamie Arthur Edgar. She was raised alongside her younger brother, Charles Edgar Jr., affectionately known as “Little Brother” or “Lil Bruh.” She also shared close bonds with her older siblings Carol Edgar-Lang, Maryann Edgar Calloway, and Lonnie Lewis Sr.

A proud product of San Francisco’s historic Fillmore District, Debra attended Andrew Jackson Elementary School, where she met her lifelong best friend and adopted sister, Lynn Green, in the fifth grade. She later attended Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High School and Thomas Jefferson High School.

Debra’s mother transitioned when she was only 17 years old, and her father transitioned when she was 23. Despite these profound losses, Debra remained grounded through the love and support of extended family and lifelong family friends,

In 1971, she married Harold King. On Sept. 24, 1972, they welcomed their first son, Dajuan Artese King, affectionately called “Pop” or “Poppa.” On Aug. 5, 1976, they welcomed their second son, Dante Dupree King, affectionately called “Tay” or “Taboocoo the Baby.”

After her divorce in 1982, Debra assumed full responsibility for raising her sons.

She supported Dajuan’s passion for football by purchasing sports equipment and attending games faithfully. She supported Dante’s love of music by enrolling him in the San Francisco Boys Choir, Oakland Boys Choir, and the Castlemont Castleers.

Professionally, Debra built an exceptional career. She worked at Blue Shield of California from 1973 until 1994, earning multiple promotions.

She later joined the Oakland Unified School District, initially in a temporary role before being promoted into management within the Labor Relations Department. She retired from OUSD in 2015 after years of distinguished service. During her years at OUSD, she built meaningful friendships with her colleagues.

Faith was central to Debra’s life. During the 1980s, following personal hardship, she joined Love Center Church under the leadership of Bishop Walter Hawkins, where she brought her children regularly. She later became a member of Triumphant: A Church Without Walls Ministries under Pastor Dr. Larry Short, who became a beloved spiritual mentor.

After Triumphant closed in 1992, Debra joined Cosmopolitan Baptist Church in Oakland under the leadership of Pastor Larry Ashley, where she remained for the rest of her life.

At Cosmopolitan, she worked in numerous ministries. She served on the usher board, sang in the choir, participated in the AIDS ministry during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, helped feed and support unhoused community members, and mentored and supported a group of young girls.

After retirement, she cared for older adults in her church community, driving them to appointments, cleaning their homes, managing finances, preparing meals, and helping families navigate funeral arrangements after loved ones transitioned.

Even while battling Stage 4 cancer herself, she continued caring for others.

Debra was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Edgar Sr. and Mamie Arthur Edgar; her brothers, Lonnie Lewis Sr. and Charles Edgar Jr.; her sisters, Maryann Edgar Calloway and Victoria Stephenson Knight; and her adopted mother, Clara Oliver.

She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved sons, Dajuan King and Dante King; grandson, Tiyler Dajuan Artese King; sister, Carol Edgar-Lang; goddaughters Monique Belle and Ricketa Matthews Jones (Leonard); daughter-in-love Quiona Sullivan; son-in-love Marcel Walker; sister-in-law Delores Lewis; adopted sisters and lifelong friends Lynn Green, Barbara Stephenson Hill, and Sarah Fine; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family members, her church family and dear friends.