Hazel Strickland

Hazel Strickland, affectionately known as Mama Hazel was born October 28, 1922, in Mesa Arizona to Rosa Josephine Humdy and Ben Carter Roberts. She was the fourth of five children. She is predeceased by her brother Dr. Will Roberts, her Brother Otis Roberts and her sisters Audrey Roberts and Marie Roberts. Hazel was a very active child which translated into adulthood and was still very active up to the age of 99, still driving and gardening.

Hazel came to California in 1927 with her family, where she lived in various places around Brawley until she was about 16. She and her family came to Riverside in 1939. In her early years, she loved track and field, excelling in the high jump and she played softball. She excelled in spelling in school.

Even though she never graduated high school, she always held good and interesting jobs. Her first job was as a sitter for Lt. Terrell’s daughter at March Air Force Base. When that job ended, she moved to Los Angeles for approximately three years, to live with her aunt, where she worked as a Riveter on airplanes at Hunter Douglass. Thereafter, she moved back to Riverside around 1942.

In 1941, she had a daughter, Barbara Ann Roberts Keys, whom she raised pretty much as a single parent. She married Malcom Keys but divorced later. In 1945, She took a job transporting the Officers from Union Station to Camp Anza in Arlington during debarkation at the end of World War II, as the officers returned home. When Camp Anza closed, she began working at March Air Force Base as an Aircraft Mechanic, for the next four years. Thereafter, she obtained a position at Bridgeport Brass, in Riverside, as a Machine Operator, making ammunition for about 7 years. In 1960, she married Errol Strickland, and in 1962, she had another daughter, Michelle Denise Strickland. When Michelle was about 5 years old, Hazel returned to work, getting a job at Toro making lawnmowers. She learned about a position at Alcan Aluminum (the successor of Bridgeport Brass) as an inspector, she applied, even though the prevailing attitude was that the company would only hire a male for the position. Hazel had a reputation as a hardworking individual who took pride in her work. The management decided that Hazel was qualified, and Hazel went back to work, this time as an Inspector. She worked as an Inspector for about three years, until Alcan closed its doors. Hazel then changed her course completely, taking a job at Ina Arbuckle School as an Instructional Aide. She retired from the school district in 1982 and moved to Rialto, where she resided until her passing. Hazel also spent 36 years caring for her sister Audrey, who was a deaf mute and partially blind. Hazel learned sign language to be able to communicate with her sister.

Hazel’s hobbies over the years are many and varied. She was the sole surviving member of a card club which started in about 1967, with Hazel, Jeanne Roberts, Sally Williams, Bessie Harris, Lurleen Blakely, Henrietta Ingram and Mary Clemons. Over the years, others joined as the original members passed on, but Hazel was still the only original player playing until she reached 99 years of age. She enjoyed her many trips to Las Vegas and loved to gamble. Hazel was a shopper and an elegant and stylish dresser. She loved hats and shoes.

Having a child when she was in her 40s made her extremely active. She spent a lot of time with her young daughter, teaching her to golf, bowl, play softball, volleyball, croquet and various other sporting activities. Hazel competed in a bowling league, she liked to sew, and found great satisfaction in helping her daughter, granddaughter and grandson with school projects, such as Black History month projects, drill team events and parade float making. She threw many get-togethers for friends and family, and especially liked to throw a party for St. Patrick’s Day, cooking corned beef and cabbage and making sure everyone had on something green. She enjoyed Las Vegas

Hazel was the matriarch of five generations. She is survived by her daughter Michelle Strickland and her stepdaughter Sylvia Shanklin. She was preceded in death by her husband Errol Strickland, her siblings, her daughter Barbara Keys Harper Stewart, her stepson Reginald Strickland and daughter in law, Susan Strickland, her stepson, Lonnie Harvey, (daughter in-law Karen Harvey is living) and her "adopted daughter" Beatrice Steen. She is survived by her grandchildren, Regina Strickland Haywood (Mike), Eric Strickland (Rica), Kevin Harvey, Lester Harvey, (Yolanda) Randy Shanklin, Kecia Harper, Milton Harper Jr. (Angela), and Peter Strickland. She survived by great grandchildren, Emiko Strickland, Jasyne Harvey, Brandi McAdory, Desiree Harper, Toi Harper, Ravi Harper, Tariq Harvey, Hope Ihem, William Harvey Milton ("Milty") Harper III and Samiyah Harper and five great-great grandchildren, King, Covington, Onalayiah Satcherwhite, Kenya Covington, Kassyne Covington, and Kelani Covington. She is also survived by her nephews, Robert "Bob" Roberts (Benita) and Darryl Johnson (Gayle) (nieces Sharon Richards, Linda Dickerson (Robert) Marsha Green, and Norma Richardson (Ron) and great nieces Joan Roberts, Staci Richards and Tracee Johnson and great nephews, Jeffrey Richards (Tammy), Brian Dickerson (Casey), Zaire Daniels, and a great-great nephew Braylen Dickerson and a host of family and friends.

She was greatly loved and will be sorely missed.

Hazel's Celebration of Life will be held on December 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Green Acres Memorial Park 11715 Cedar Avenue, Bloomington, California 92316. Immediately thereafter, the repast to be held at the Francis Brooks Community Center, 214 N. Palm Avenue, Rialto, CA 92376

Hazel had been diagnosed with vascular dementia. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Diane E. Watson Center for Compassionate Intervention,(DEW Foundation) which includes in its many works, a healthy brain Initiative dedicated to Alzheimer’s and Dementia informational seminars, c/o Natalie Lawless at P.O. Box 8983, Los Angeles, CA 90008.