Hazel Bunn Watkins

Hazel B. Watkins was born in Elm City, North Carolina in Nash County, on April 22, 1928 to Major and Zulah Lucas Newton. She is preceded in death by her sisters, Mae Beulah Lucas Kelly and Ruth Lucas Taylor-Hilyard; brother George Pender; husbands, Leroy Bunn and William E. Watkins, and her youngest daughter, Janice Bunn Slater-Hockaday. She attended public schools in Nash County. Hazel married Leroy Bunn in Dillon, South Carolina at an early age and three daughters were born of this union. She moved to Brooklyn NY in 1948. She later moved to Richmond, Virginia where she worked in domestics and picked up the name “Mary” until she married William E. Watkins, affectionately known as “Pops.” She was a hard worker and determined to raise her girls to be intelligent and respectful young ladies. Hazel was a strict disciplinarian and nobody could mess with her girls but her. Don’t misunderstand, mother loved to have fun. Hazel had lots of cookouts in the backyard and enjoyed “penny” card games with family and close friends. She believed in a family that worshipped together stayed together and therefore made sure that her family was raised in the church. On January 14, 1979, she joined Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church which was near her home and paid homage until she became ill in 2006. She continued to mail in her tides and offerings for many years, even though she was not able to attend service. What a wonderful mother, grandmother, aunt and cousin. What a beautiful person! She loved the sunshine and would sit in her favorite chair by the window watching everything that went on in her neighborhood. As her health lessened, the sunshine gave her hope. One day we noticed two birds pecking at the window, she said, “they have come to take me to heaven.” We said, “mom those birds can’t lift you.” She said, “don’t be silly, they have come to take my soul to heaven.” “Hazel B”, as we affectionately often called her, loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her only great great-grandchild “Kenzi” (sugar pie honey bunch) and would do anything for them. They were her life as she became up in age. She was a fighter and kept her pain from us for as long as she could. We all mourn her loss. Hazel B was the foundation of this family and the only remaining child of Zulah. After a long and furious battle with her illness, the Almighty called her home on April 1, 2012. She is survived by two daughters, Ellen Pryor-Lee (Jeffrey) and Dorothy Bullock-Webster; 7 grandchildren, Kevin Pryor (Ginger), Lisa B. Stinson (Steven Sr.), Mark A. Bullock (Shanda), Edward L. Bunn (Teneke), Kelly B. Slater, Shekila M. Lee and Quentae Kelly, 17 great grandchildren, a great great-grandchild; devoted son-in-law, Carroll Hockaday, Sr.; loving cousins, Wilnette Cunningham, Carolyn and Carmen Miller; extended-daughters, Thelma Fields-Coleman, Lucy Hill, NaKwale Sackey and Dora Harris; devoted great-niece, Zelda Kelly; 6 nephews ; 4 nieces, a host of other relatives and friends; one caring friend, James Johnson.

Tributes

Hazel Bunn Watkins

April 22, 1928 - April 1, 2012