Hazel Dykes Breland

Hazel Breland of Decatur passed away on January 28, 2016 at Summerford Nursing Home in Falkville, surrounded by her family. She was 85.

Mrs. Breland was born March 2, 1930 in Gordon, Alabama in rural Houston County, the only child of Joe Haskins Dykes and Mary Alma Dykes. When she was a small girl, her family relocated to Tuscaloosa, where Mrs. Breland attended school and was a member of Alberta Baptist Church.

Mrs. Breland graduated from Holt High School in Tuscaloosa. She excelled in music, playing piano and woodwind instruments. She entered the University of Alabama upon her graduation from high school and was among the first women accepted into the University of Alabama “Million Dollar Band”. She earned a degree in music from Alabama.

While at the University, she met and married her husband of 64 years, the late Judge Edwin D. Breland of Decatur. After her husband’s graduation from law school in 1952, the Brelands relocated to Decatur, where they began careers in law and in teaching.

Mrs. Breland started her teaching career in the Decatur City School system as a music teacher. She would eventually transition to teach 7th grade history and social studies at Decatur Junior High School. Over her tenure, Mrs. Breland became one of the best known and most beloved teachers of her day. Her former students would write her and visit with her for many years after her teaching career was over, expressing their love and admiration. Many of them shared stories of how she had helped them in some way or had inspired them in their life’s journey. She vividly remembered her students and genuinely cared for them all. Many of her former students would later become some of Decatur’s leading citizens. Her career as a teacher in Decatur was among her most cherished accomplishments and memories.

She was also an active member of Central Baptist Church in Decatur for many years. She would later become a member of the First Baptist Church in Decatur and remained such until her passing. Many of her Sunday school classmates became lifelong friends and companions.

Later in life, her love of family and history, along with her desire to continue to teach and research would culminate into an amateur career as a genealogist. Over the years her travels and research resulted in her self-publishing the genealogical histories of dozens of families. She would later freely share her research findings and methods with others and would take joy in teaching others the love of genealogy. She became a very accomplished genealogist and found much satisfaction in sharing her findings with others, especially family.

Most of all, Hazel Breland gave unconditional support to her family. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother and a wonderful grandmother. Mrs. Breland was preceded in death by her husband, the late Judge Edwin D. Breland and by her daughter, the late Carolyn Breland (Phillips), and is survived by two sons, Judge David J. Breland and daughter in law, Drama Breland, son, Edwin D. Breland, Jr. and daughter in law, Virginia Breland. She is also survived by four grandchildren Will Breland, Jordan Phillips, Mary Katherine Breland, and Julia Phillips.

The family would like to offer their sincere appreciation to the memory care unit at The Terrace in Priceville and especially to the staff of the memory care unit at Summerford Nursing Home in Falkville for their loving care to Hazel Breland in her final years.

Hazel Breland was, throughout her entire life, genuinely a sweet soul and a wonderful Christian lady.

Funeral be held in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Decatur on Sunday January 31, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be held in the sanctuary from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Roselawn Cemetery immediately following.