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.
My deepest sympathy to the family. I knew Hazel and Kenneth when they had their store and post office at Bernie. I would stop on my way to my grandparents Calloway and Betsy Linville. I moved and they moved but always remember them as wonderful people.
So sorry to hear of Hazel’s passing. A great lady. Lots of prayers for the family.
My prayers for the family and may GOD comfort you at this sad time.
Beautiful lady, loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and sister in Christ. An example as a Christian, that we all should try to be. She has gained the reward that she has longed for, and is shouting all over heaven. Prayers for all the family, in the days to come.
So sorry to hear about Hazel’s passing. Well loved by all who knew her. Thoughts and prayers to the family.
I’m her cousin is Kimberly Miller,she wonderful,nice lady,I love her and I miss,I’m sorry your loss,prayers,Amen
My teacher and our family’s friend always! She and Kennith would feed our family until my parents got their income tax check, then they paid the grocery bill. Hazel would always tell Mom, “Now don’t you worry, we know you’re good for it.” Whatever money came in, went directly to pay for the grocery bill. I’m sure they did the same for more families than just ours! Hazel always let her faith in God shine through!
So sorry for this loss. She was an angel and everyone who ever met her had to love her. Many prayers for peace & comfort to all her family. Love y’all.
I am a longtime friend of Hazel’s granddaughter Leah Whitten. Throughout the years I have heard such amazing things about this woman. She was very courageous, lived her life on her terns & left this world with grace.
I know that she loved deeply.
My deepest sympathies to Leah & her family.
Blessings
I love this lady like a mother. I worked for her as a caregiver, but it was more of a friendship relationship. We laughed, cried, and a lot of other things together. Love the family very much and my prayers are with them. What she sees now is more than words can ever explain. Lots of love and prayer. Faye & Glenn
Prayers for the Family she will be missed