Pearlie Mae Massey, 78, of New Haven, Conn., previously of Norfolk, Va., passed away peacefully on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. Born on April 29, 1946 in Pitt County, Greenville, N.C., Pearlie was the beloved daughter of the late Roosevelt and Mallie (Adams) Hardy.
Pearlie cherished her family and loved going on vacations to Florida, the Bahamas, and Atlanta with Shirleyann and her sister Pat. She loved the color red, enjoyed cooking, shopping, listening to Al Green, watching ION and Bounce TV, all day and night, and ignoring you when her show is on. Pearlie was loved by so many, working as an outreach worker for Parent Ministries on Grand Avenue in the 1970s, working for Lender’s Bagel in the 1980s, Milford Glass, and she also drove a school bus in New Haven.
She was the loving wife of over 50 years to the late Frank Massey Sr. Pearlie was the cherished mother of Evelyn, Carol, Shirleyann (Kelvin) Korengay, Rhonda, Frank Massey Jr., and Micheal (Tracy) Massey. She was a loving sister of Shirley Clements of Norfolk, Va., Mallie (Pat) Hardy of Atlanta, Ga., Ken Hardy of Rocky Hill, Conn., Justice Hardy of Atlanta, Ga., and Jeffery Hardy of New Haven.
Pearlie leaves to cherish her memories: her grandsons, Officer William Simmons Jr., Javon and Jeffery Brazier Sr., Officer Anthony Morrison, Micheal Massey Jr., Kason Massey, Tyreese Sheats, Jahzire Massey, Sharod Davis; and special granddaughters, Charlice, Mya, Michelle, Mareka, Ryhinyatta, Michaela, Trayanna, Ranada, Asheley, Zi’Antrum, Kiya, Skylar, great grandsons, Kayden Simmons, Javon Brazier; great granddaughters, Skylar Brazier and Navy Massey; niece, Isis Wells, and a whole host of nieces and nephews, family and friends. She was adored by 18 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews all over the country. She adored her favorite niece, Angela Shepard of South Carolina, and her son Mike was her “Superhero” and she would let you know, “I’mma tell Mike!” and when she called, he was always right there. And for 25 years, Williams Simmons, Sr. was always there for Pearlie as well.
She was predeceased by her brothers, Roosevelt Hardy Jr. and Fred Hardy; and grandchildren, Easter Brazier, Tarin Perry, Tyreese Massey, Antrum Madden, and Padro Massey.
A Celebration of Pearlie’s Life will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel St., New Haven, CT 06511. Friends may call from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Hamden Plains Cemetery, Hamden. To leave a message of comfort for the Massey family, please visit www.hkhfuneralservices.com