May 1st, 1943-October 6th, 2019
Hazel Marie Clark, daughter of Omega and Frances Debnam Richardson, born in Louisburg, North Carolina on May 1st, 1943, entered peacefully into eternal rest on Sunday, October 6, 2019.
Hazel graduated from George P. Phenix High School located on Hampton University’s Campus in Hampton, Virginia. Upon completion of high school, Hazel obtained employment at the Chamberlin Hotel, on Fort Monroe as a waitress/ Hostess. Del and Hazel met through family and dated for 6 months prior to getting married.
Hazel, Delano (Del) and Anita traveled the world with Del’s military career. What a wonderful life she lived. While many were reading about the places they traveled to, she and Del were experiencing it first-hand. She was the wife and first lady of the man who maintained the Air Force One. Therefore, she was responsible for planning many high-level meetings and events. She was chairman of the wives’ club on base. She was a woman that marched to her own drum beat. She was loved and respected by many and managed to complete her college education while working full-time and raising a family. She holds an Associate’s Degree from Wayne Community College in Finance and Accounting, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Fayetteville Technical Institute in Business. After receiving her BA, she worked at Pope AFB Credit Union as a teller, eventually working her way up to the position of Administrative Bank Manager. She was President of the Air Force Sergeants Association and also played an integral part during the civil rights era in North Carolina with the NAACP. She once competed, not only on a softball league, but a bowling league, receiving various trophies for her many perfect games. Hazel was a perfectionist in all that she did at work and at home, and received many accolades during her various careers.
Hazel was lovingly known as “Lil Mama”, “Mama Clark,” or “Ms. Hazel” by many of her daughter’s friends and children in the neighborhood. She touched so many lives; more than we will ever know.
Hazel Clark was preceded in death by her parents, Omega and Frances Richardson; husband, Delano Clark; daughter, Shelia Renee and two brothers, William Thomas Richardson and James Edward Richardson and her baby sister, Carolyn Louise Thompson; sister in law, Nannie V. Richardson and two brothers-in-law, Benjamin West and Bobby Sanders. Hazel leaves behind her beautiful daughter, Anita Maria Clark; one brother, Omega Richardson, Jr. of Hampton, Virginia; two sisters, Lillie Mae West of Avon Park, Florida and Joyce Ann Sanders of Hampton, Virginia; four sisters-in-law, Teniya Clark-Lee, Lorraine Malker, Mary Frazier (Russell) and Natasha Pile (Venslough); two brothers-in-law, Robert Malker (Diane) and Rev. Dr. Kenneth Pearman, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, relatives and special friends who will cherish fond memories of her. God granted you your wings because he had a new assignment for you.
We sincerely thank the many friends and relatives who gave support and strength during Hazel’s illness and her passing on to be with the Lord. Your visits and other acts of kindness exemplify God’s rich glory in such a loving way. In this troubled world, it is truly refreshing to know people who still have the time to be kind and who have the faith to believe that the more you give, the more you will receive; people who are ready by thoughts, words and deeds to reach out their hands in our hour of need.
God bless you all,
The family
