Funeral and celebration of life planned for chef Maxcel Hardy

Friends and family of nationally recognized chef Maxcel Hardy will gather in Detroit this week for a celebration of life.

A wake is set for noon-6 p.m. Friday, March 15, at the Triumph Church East Campus, 2760 E. Grand Blvd. in Detroit. Special remarks will be 3-4:30 p.m. A homegoing celebration is set for 11 a.m. March 16 at the same location, following the family hour at 10 a.m.

Hardy, a restaurateur and culinary leader known for his commitment to community and fighting hunger, died Monday at age 40. As news of his death spread, a wide swath of friends and colleagues took to social media to offer support and condolences.

"I am so saddened to hear about the passing of Chef Maxcel Hardy," wrote chef Marcus Samuelsson on Instagram. "As one of the most exciting Black chefs to watch, we were thrilled when he joined us at (food festival) Harlem EatUp, and I’ve been following his impressive trajectory as a leader in the Detroit food community. He made a huge impact and his loss will be deeply felt."

Former Detroit police chief Ralph Godbee Jr. called Hardy "a truly amazing person."

"A sad day in Detroit," he wrote. "This man cared so deeply for the disenfranchised."

"Max was more than just an accomplished chef, restaurateur, and business owner," wrote Starex Smith of media platform the Hungry Black Man. "He was a Black equity advocate, an amazing father, and to me, he was my partner in crime for all the ideas we had to uplift Detroit."

Hardy was a Detroit native who had spent time cooking in Miami and New York City for high-profile customers. He returned to Detroit and opened Rosedale Park restaurant River Bistro in 2017, followed by Coop Detroit at the Detroit Shipping Company, a food hall in the Cass Corridor a year later. He also owned and operated Jed's Detroit, a pizza and burger carryout at Seven Mile and Interstate 75.

Flowers can be sent to Kemp Funeral Home at 24585 Evergreen in Southfield. Charitable contributions and monetary donations can be made digitally via cashapp ($CHEFMAXCELHARDYIII) or Zelle (use the phone number (813) 992-0606 to Tinesha/Tiny).

mbaetens@detroitnews.com