Dennis Hazelwood

Born in Narrows, VA, to parents Hobart and Betty Hazelwood who would eventually move to raise their children in West Virginia. Dennis lived a life dedicated to his country, his family, and above all his Lord and Saviour. At 18 he joined the United States Navy, serving his country by protecting the freedoms of its civilians; he continued that service when he returned home by becoming a beloved teacher. He taught in many schools over his career—Meadow Bridge Elementary, Mount Hope Elementary, and Oak Hill Elementary—impacting the lives, hearts, and minds of the children he taught. Throughout his life he maintained his faith attending church wherever the family moved and most recently attending the Cathedral of Prayer Southern Baptist Church in Charleston, WV.

In his free time, he enjoyed fishing, boating, antique cars, and his mustang. It could be said he really enjoyed being outdoors, especially if being outdoors meant being on a tractor, which of course made mowing the grass more of a hobby than a chore. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with family, his high school sweetheart and devoted wife of over 53 years, Joyce, and his three children each of whom he was immensely proud of.

Preceding him in death are his paternal grandparents, Macie and John Floyd Hazelwood; maternal grandparents, Hazel and Harry Hollins; parents Betty and Hobart Hazelwood; and a beloved brother, Floyd “Sonny” Hazelwood.

Those left to cherish his memory are his darling wife Joyce Hazelwood; daughter Melissa Carpenter and husband Marvin and their children, Chloe and Brooklyn; son Thomas Hazelwood and wife Nichole and their children Thomas II (wife Antoinette), Christian, Cayden, Braylon, and Xander; son Dennis Hazelwood II and wife Antoinette and their children Isabella, Wyatt, and Evelyn; a brother Gary Hazelwood; a sister Sheila Perkins and husband Tom; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other beloved extended family members and friends.

Dennis made an impact on all who knew him, and he will be greatly missed.

A Funeral Service officiated by Pastor Kevin Norvell will be held at Blue Ridge Funeral Home of Beckley, WV, on Saturday April 11th at 2pm. Friends are encouraged to join the family for a visitation on Friday April 10th, 2026 from 5pm- 8pm and again from 1pm-2pm before the service on Saturday.