Laurice Antoinette Booker Hardin

July 17, 1940 – September 22, 2025

Laurice Antoinette Booker Hardin, 85, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2025. Born on July 17, 1940, at St. Joseph Infirmary in Louisville, she was the beloved daughter of Tessabell Elizabeth Distler and Joseph Belmont Booker.

Antoinette—known affectionately as “Toni” to many—lived a life rich in music, learning, and love. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Louisville in 1962 with a special emphasis in Voice Pedagogy and a minor in languages, and later a Master of Arts in Teaching from Spalding University in 1972.

A gifted mezzo-soprano, Toni enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional singer and educator. She performed nationally in opera, oratorio, and concert works, including engagements at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Kennedy Center. Her repertoire spanned from Bach and Handel to Verdi and Wagner, and her artistry was celebrated by audiences and colleagues alike.

In addition to her performance career, Toni was a passionate teacher who inspired generations of students. She served as a voice instructor and adjunct professor at the University of Louisville School of Music and taught in Jefferson County and Anchorage public schools, where she worked as an art teacher, special education teacher, and Title I specialist.

Toni was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Roscoe Hardin, with whom she shared a marriage filled with music, laughter, and devotion since their wedding on July 4, 1969. She was also preceded in death by her dear friend Henry Robinson, whose companionship brought joy and comfort in her later years.

Those who knew Toni will remember her for her deep love of music, her radiant presence, and her unwavering kindness. She found beauty in life’s details—whether singing a Bach aria, creating art, writing poetry, tending her garden, or sharing stories with friends and family.

She leaves behind a legacy of creativity, grace, and generosity that will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to know her.

A celebration of Toni’s life will be held on Saturday, November 1, at 4 p.m. at All Peoples, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation located at 4936 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, Kentucky.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Animal Care Society of Louisville, Louisville Public Radio WFPK, or the ASPCA.

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