Hazel Benton

Hazel L. Houston Benton, 90, of Crawfordville, Florida, died in Tallahassee Florida on December 30, 2020. She was born on June 9, 1930, on the farm of her grandparents near Silver Lake in western Leon County. Her parents were Otis Searcy Houston and Frances Elizabeth Williams Houston, both of whose families were early settlers in the Tallahassee area before Florida became a state.

In 1948 Hazel graduated from Leon High School. She was a proud member of the Marching Redcoats Band and enjoyed a continuing relationship with her high school classmates. Soon after graduation Hazel married William E. (“Dick”) Benton and their union would last almost 73 years until her death. The birth of two sons followed and she began an important early career as the quintessential stay-at-home mom, giving her full devotion to supporting the activities of her family in church, school, sports, music, scouting and other endeavors. Hazel had a deep faith and in her adult life was active member of Immanuel Baptist Church, Parkway Baptist Church (founding member) and First Baptist Church (Tallahassee and Crawfordville).

After raising her sons, Hazel embarked on a successful career of 40 years as a floral designer, working out of her home and providing over 1,400 brides and event hostesses with floral arrangements. Complementary to her talents with flowers, Hazel was an accomplished gardener and her yard on Victory Garden Drive often caused passersby to stop, admire and send notes of appreciation for providing a notable spot of beauty. She generously shared her expansive knowledge of flowers and gardening and the cuttings and seeds from her plants with friends, neighbors and strangers.

Hazel also had an interest in public policy and frequented meetings of the city and count commissions to voice her opinions about environmental issues. Among her passions was the protection of the community’s canopy roads and she was appointed to the initial Canopy Roads Protection Committee which drafted and recommended the regulatory protections for trees along canopy roads which were later adopted by local government and which are still in effect.

From an early age Hazel had an interest in and talent for numerous arts and hobbies, including quilting, painting in oils, sewing and collecting antiques. Among her most treasured creations were several French hand sewn dresses made for her granddaughter and christening gowns made for her great grandsons. Her heirloom quality creations will be treasured by generations to come. Hazel graciously passed down her experience to those who wished to emulate her skills in cooking, painting and sewing.

In the mid-1960s Dick and Hazel acquired property on Lake Ellen in Wakulla County which initially was the family weekend retreat for camping, boating, fishing, family events and many work filled weekends. In 1996 a retirement home was built at the lake and Dick and Hazel became full-time residents there. Until her recent illness, not a day went by without Hazel doing something in her yard, adding another flower arrangement to the house or roaming the nearby woods in search of native plants to dig up and return to her yard. Hazel took pride in creating the lake house as the focus of enjoyment and bonding for four generations of family and friends, with Hazel regaling in routinely preparing sumptuous holiday meals for all to enjoy at her large antique dining table. No one was turned away and no one left hungry.

In the year of her 90th birthday, Hazel encountered medical challenges that limited her hands-on ability to maintain her home and yard. It was frustrating for her and hard to relinquish this role, but Dick and her sons continued to follow her guidance and directions as her health deteriorated. With the assistance of family and others, she was fortunate to be able to stay in her beloved lake house until three weeks before death freed her from her earthly limits.

She is survived by her husband, William E. (“Dick”) Benton; her sons, Dale Benton (Beth) and Rick Benton; grandchildren Paige Benton McKee (Patrick), Wade Benton (Maclain), and Earl Benton (Miranda); six great-grandsons: Carson Benton, Web Benton, Benton McKee, Ralph Benton, Burke McKee, and Liam Benton, all of Tallahassee; and many loved nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Bradley. Hazel was predeceased by her parents; a special aunt, Virginia Conoly; and her other siblings: Inez Nolan, Frank Houston, Ed Houston, and Charles Houston.

Due to the pandemic, a private Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 4 at Roselawn Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed on Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home and Memorial Park’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/meadowwoodmemorialpark/ or by following the "Join Livestream" link below.

In lieu of flowers, the family of Hazel requests that those who are interested may make contributions to St. Francis Wildlife Association, 5580 Salem Road, Quincy Florida 32352 - www.stfranciswildlife.org