We respectfully announce the passing of Mrs. Hazel Jackson of Hogansville, Georgia on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center in LaGrange.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at St. Mary United Methodist Church located at 100 Pine Street in Hogansville. Pastor Elaine Gilbert will officiate and interment will follow in the Church Cemetery.

Public viewing will be held on Friday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the Funeral Home.

Due to COVID-19 concerns everyone in attendance at the Funeral and the viewing is encouraged to wear a mask.

Hazel Jeanette (Byrd) Jackson was born May 16, 1945 in Troup County Georgia to the late Marie Hall and Willie Olin Byrd Sr.

She was baptized at an early age at Shiloh Baptist Church and later joined St. Mary’s United Methodist Church. She remained an active and dedicated member who served in several capacities to include Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Chairman of the Annual Team, Choir Member, Travel Committee, Usher Board, Church Anniversary Committee, and Vacation Bible School. She also assisted with the Girl Scouts. She graduated Salutatorian from West End High School. While attending West End High School, she was active in sports, a star player on the Tigers Basketball team and she participated in regional intramural sports. She was an active member of a Champion Adult Volleyball Team. She was a pitcher on the Adult Softball Team.

Hazel was united in holy matrimony to the late Honorable Jimmy Lee Jackson on January 9, 1964. To this union, six children were born.

Hazel was a very loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend. She had a wonderful sense of humor, with a great laugh that warmed your heart. She was a great listener who always provided words of encouragement. She cherished her children and grandchildren and was always present to support every moment. She was an avid sports fan and had routine conversations with her grandchildren about professional sports providing analysis on each player. She enjoyed traveling with her family, baking (many accolades for her pound and red velvet cakes), spending quality time with family and friends, reading, and shopping. She was a devoted Christian that lived and walked by faith. She began and ended each day reading the Bible.

Fond Memories from Siblings, Hazel was beloved by her siblings and extended family of cousins, aunts, and uncles. She had a great personality, pretty, vivacious and active. Although we did not have a lot, e.g. store bought toys, she created our own. We made phones from two cans tied with string, dolls from Coke bottles and corn silk, a playhouse from pine straw and pine cones. We played yard games like hopscotch, Simon Sez, Hide and Seek, jacks and paddle ball hand games like O Mary Mac. Hazel was talented! She was smart, always made the honor roll; she could cook, fix hair; she loved to dance. If she could not get one of us to dance with her, she’d grab the doorknob! She once danced on a locally televised Dance Show. During her senior year she was nominated to be in the Miss West End competition; but, declined because she wanted to play basketball, she did not want to sit on the sideline as homecoming queen! She enjoyed life!

She was employed as the Lead Administrative Assistant for the Hogansville Elementary School, dedicating 43 years of honorary service. She was recently honored as Hogansville Elementary School Support Staff of the Year. She had an excellent work ethic and was very detailed oriented. She loved her job and the impact she had on the administration, staff and families.

Hazel Jeanette Jackson peacefully depart this life on November 30, 2022, at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center. She was proceed in death by six siblings, Sue Della Byrd, Willie Olin Byrd Jr., Herman Byrd, Elyse Maniece, Beatrice Fitten and Jewell Phillips Williams. She leaves to cherish loving memories, one daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Altonia (Stephanie) Fannin, Toano, VA; five sons, Mr. and Mrs. Gregory (Benita) Jackson, Tyrone, GA; Mr. and Mrs. Reginald (Valerie) Jackson, Hogansville, GA; Mr. and Mrs. Rodney (Renee) Jackson, Tyrone, GA; Mr. and Mrs. Steven (Shamika) Jackson, Hogansville, GA; Mr. Michael Jackson, McDonough, GA; seventeen grandchildren, Reginald Jr (Amica), Bryan, Brandon, Javarious, Braxton, Terrance, Justin, Jalen, Laxavier, Monica, Javon, Makayla, Kobe, Armond, Tyra, Chase, and Korey; one great grandchild, Maverick; one brother, Grady Byrd (Bettye), East Point, GA; three sisters, Lois Jenkins (Frank), Montgomery, AL; Tommie Ann Lax ( Arthur), Kankakee, IL; and, Jettie Butler, Lagrange, GA; a host of nieces, nephews, friends and former colleagues.

Arrangements entrusted to Thrash and Sons Funeral Home.