Born on April 17, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hazel was the daughter of Harry and Eleanor (Bates) Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband and the love of her life, Kenneth McCumber; her parents; and her sister, Eleanor Doub.
She is survived by her son, Harry McCumber, and his partner, Laney McNeer; her grandsons, Nicholas McCumber and Adrian McCumber, and honorary granddaughter, Ava Bondurant; her cherished cat, Monique; her dear friend, neighbor, and caregiver, Lisa Wellins; and her sister, Carol Preston.
Hazel worked for many years as a clerk with the Broward County Clerk of the Court in Florida. She and her beloved husband, Ken, loved traveling together, especially to Hawaii, where Ken was born and raised, and to Paris, a city Hazel adored. She filled her home with Parisian keepsakes and loved following the British Royal Family, a passion rooted in her parents' British heritage.
An avid reader, Hazel always kept a library card and rarely missed a James Patterson novel. She loved André Rieu, Star Trek, and animals of every kind. Her compassion for animals was constant throughout her life, and in her later years she found a special companion in Monique, the cat she rescued after a hurricane displaced her from Puerto Rico.
Hazel's greatest joy was her family. She was incredibly proud of her son and grandchildren. Their lives and accomplishments brought her endless happiness, and nothing made her smile more than talking about them.
Although she called Mississippi home for only a short time, Hazel quickly found a home at The Waterford. Her family would like to thank the staff, residents, and caregivers for welcoming Hazel with open arms and for the compassionate care they provided throughout her time there.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 1, from 4:00 until 5:00 p.m. at Parkway Funeral Home in Ridgeland, Mississippi, with the funeral service immediately following at 5:00 p.m. Hazel will be laid to rest beside her beloved Ken in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Webster Animal Shelter in Madison, Mississippi, or to your favorite no-kill animal shelter in Hazel's memory.
