CRISFIELD — Nearly $650 was recently raised in memory of Katherine “Kitty” Hardester (Sept. 22, 1924 - Jan. 3, 2023) during a celebration of life event at First Baptist Church of Crisfield, where “Miss Kitty” was a committed and cherished member.

The funds were used to purchase 300 books that were distributed to Somerset County Public School pre-school students.

The school-themed church event celebrated Miss Kitty’s love of children.

Many Crisfielders attended Miss Kitty’s kindergarten classes, which she began out of her own home in 1955, first on Main Street then on Potomac Avenue, before the advent of public pre-school. The last class was in 1968 when she became project director of the full-year Head Start Program in Crisfield.

A devoted Southern Baptist, Miss Kitty loved her Lord Jesus and was a passionate supporter of missionary initiatives, both domestic and abroad. She was the wife of Allen Hardester (1911-1982), who served as mayor of Crisfield from 1954-1956.

Urn interment was in Sunnyridge Memorial Park near Crisfield. Surviving is a son, Allen L. Hardester Jr. of Columbia.