Myrna J. Hart

Myrna Jean Epps-Hart was born to George Ellen Doak Epps and George Allen Epps, Sr. in Quindaro, Kansas on January 20^th, 1942.She was the second of four siblings.

Myrna accepted Christ in her life at the age of 18 and was baptized at First Baptist Church of Quindaro, Kansas. She graduated from Washington High School in 1959 after which she took classes that enabled her after completion to work for the Internal Revenue Service in Kansas City MO for three years. She later accepted a position at the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City until she relocated to Minnesota.

Myrna was united in marriage to Lawrence E. Hart in 1961 in Harrisonville, Missouri.She and Lawrence moved to Minnesota with their three children in 1970.

In Minnesota, Myrna worked for Burlington Northern Railroad in their accounting office for 18 years. To pursue her entrepreneurial spirit, Myrna left Burlington Northern to open, Hart’s Art, a black art shop and bookstore.Hart’s Art served the needs of the African American community for culturally diverse art, books, and other distinct novelties. She received many business awards for Hart’s Art’s contribution to the community such as the Martin Luther King Arts Award and Small Business of the Year. Myrna operated her business for more than 13 years until her health declined.

Myrna and Lawrence initially joined Abundant Life Christian Church.When the church dissolved, they moved their membership to New Hope Baptist Church of Saint Paul. At New Hope, Myrna was active with the women's prison ministry and mission.She also served as a Sunday school teacher. Myrna also enjoyed fellowshipping and serving with the Happy Seniors.

Myrna was preceded in death by her daughter Kimberly Ann Harwell, and her parents, George and George Epps, Sr.

She leaves to cherish her precious memory:Husband of 61 years, Lawrence E. Hart, Sr.; daughter, Denise A. Moton; son, Lawrence E. Hart, Jr. (Camille), Isaiah Hart, who she considered her son since she reared him since he was three years old; Brothers, George A. Epps, Jr., Ronald L. Epps (Joyce), Sister, Eileen Epps-Hamilton (Ronald); sisters-in-law, Cynthia (Manfred), Marketta (Ronald); grandsons, Ronald Russell, Kenny Jackson, Levi Epps, Lawrence Hart III, Julian Hart; granddaughters, Rachel Brown, Jeanie Ellen Hart, Victoria Eileen Harwell; and a host of great-grandchildren, cousins, family, and a host of friends.