Ludell Hazel

On October 21, 2015, Ludell Hazel went to meet her Lord and Savior and reunite with her beloved husband of 66 years, Lewis Hazel. She was 97 years old and died peacefully at home surrounded by the family and friends she loved and led. Born the youngest of four children on July 3, 1918, in Willacoochee, Georgia, Ludell learned the value of hard work and the importance of family at a young age. She attended South Georgia College and received a B.S. from Georgia Southern University. In 1941, a friend set her up on a blind date with a young soldier stationed at Hunter Army Airfield. Even though “Haze” was an Illinois Yankee preparing for deployment to the Philippines, he won Ludell's heart. Receiving just a single letter, she waited faithfully while he was a prisoner of war (Bataan Death March survivor) for four years in a Japanese prison camp. Upon his release at War’s end, "Haze" rushed to Douglas, Georgia, to reunite with Ludell, and they were married in 1946. While raising their two children, they lived all over the country, Illinois, Nevada, Florida, Alaska and Virginia, before returning to Georgia and making Savannah their home in 1961. Ludell served as an elementary school teacher for more than 30 years and taught at Thunderbolt Elementary for 21 years. She touched the lives of hundreds of students inspiring them to find joy in the written word. She held leadership positions as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Alpha Delta Kappa, Colonial Dames of the 17th Century and was a member of Robert McIntire United Methodist Church and Whitefield United Methodist Church. She loved reading, baking, quilting and spending time with family and friends. Her legacy of faith, generosity and service is carried on by her children: son H. Lewis (Mary) Hazel and daughter Christy (Michael) Plummer, grandchildren: Christopher (Gina) Hazel, Charles (Kellie) Hazel, Benjamin (Raeshelle) Plummer, and Natalie (Jonah) Broulette, several great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Visitation: 5-7 p.m., Thursday at Fairhaven Funeral Home - Hubert C. Baker Chapel, 7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, GA 31406. Funeral Services: 10 a.m. Friday at Whitefield United Methodist Church, with Dr. Grover Bell, officiating. Graveside: 3 p.m. Friday at Arna Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, on the Douglas-Willachoochee Highway. Remembrances: Arna Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, in care of Delores Shilling, 30 Fields Park Road, Statesboro, GA 30461 or Hospice Savannah, Inc., 1352 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA 31406.

Ludell Hazel

July 3, 1918 - October 21, 2015