I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith.
Hazel Bays Whitten, 94, of Woodville, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday June 1, 2016, surrounded by her family and friends who were singing her favorite songs to her.
She was born on February 13, 1922 and was born again as a Christian in 1949 when she was saved at the Methodist church on Stinson Mountain. She was a member of Woodville Baptist Church.
Hazel attended Tango and Yawkey Elementary schools, Duval High School, Marshall University, and Morris Harvey College. She was a school teacher for 13 years. She retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 33 years of service as the postmaster of the Woodville post office. She was also co-owner of Whitten’s Grocery for many years.
Hazel is preceded in death by her husband Kenneth, sons Barry and Roger, daughter Sharon Baisden, an infant son, grandson Kenny, parents Wetzel and Bessie Bays, and brothers Benny, Basil, and Herman Bays.
Hazel is survived by sons Ronald (Katherine) Whitten and Donald (Charlotte) Whitten of Griffithsville; daughter-in-law Chiquita Whitten of Woodville; brothers Bernard of Toledo, OH, Jack (Barbara) of Elkview, and Bill of Leander, TX; sisters Betty (Leo) Pack of Elkview and Louise Fought of Toledo, OH; 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 3 great, great-grandchildren.
Hazel was blessed with a family that took excellent care of her along with 2 very special friends Faye Smith and Melissa Sigmon. She loved her family and she loved serving the Lord. She most enjoyed talking to people about the Lord. Anyone who visited with her could not leave without honoring her request of singing her one of her favorite church hymns.
Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday June 4, 2016 at Curry Funeral Home, 2096 Childress Rd, Alum Creek with Pastors Homer Hensley and Gene Pauley officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Friday June 3, 2016.
Burial will follow at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey, WV.
Per Hazel’s request, please do not send food or flowers to the home or funeral home.