Hazel Virginia Williams

Hazel Virginia Williams was born on October 18, 1944, in Glynn County, Brunswick, GA. She was a mom, grandma, and great grandma. Our Mom Hazel dedicated her time here helping those in her New Haven community. She became a force to reckon with as Pond Street Block Watch Captain, which led her to achieve with the City of New Haven three prestigious awards for an All-American City in 1989, 2003 and again in 2018. Hazel was a resolute member of The Soul Passages book club, which she enjoyed immensely. Hazel was a member of the Dixwell Avenue Senior Center where she loved to play Bid Whist on Wednesday. She attended trips during the months before her passing. Hazel was a down-south-with-her-Georgia-roots cook, loved baking to share with others and had a love of flowers since she could walk the streets of Brunswick with its pebble roads. She shared a story of picking a flower that she thought was beautiful from a neighbor’s yard, at an early age. Hazel was scolded and told she could not take these flowers, she was determined from then on, she would grow her own flowers. Hazel fondly remembered by those close to her as a voracious reader and taught her children to love reading where she visited weekly the New Haven Free Public Library on Chapel Street, New Haven. Hazel studied Accounting which led to her work here in New Haven as a bank teller for Connecticut Savings Bank, where she devotedly trained younger women from the community. She continued her career as  a bank teller at Bank of Boston-Connecticut located in downtown New Haven and then after years dedicated to her position, Hazel retired with Sovereign Bank at the same location.

Hazel, a lover of all things people, departed this place on August 27, 2022 after a month of doing what she loved: planting flowers. Whether in her garden or for others in the community, since moving to her Pond Street home, each Fall season she planted daffodils for the Newhallville community and was happy to collaborate with the participating community service programs. Hazel loved and always planned her time when spending it with friends, family, and her community. It was special to her Hazel was a beloved wife and an active member of Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, serving as community leader to distribute food and clothing to her community in need. She departed as a member of Blessed Sacrament. Hazel was debutante at Risley high school in Brunswick, GA. Hazel began attending Albany State College in Albany, GA in the early 1960’s, she studied English. Her hope was to one day become a teacher. Hazel spent time with family often coming with her homemade banana splits, or creating the party atmosphere to include pinatas, French fries and food on the grill as she does so well to accommodate each age. In the days leading up to her passing she made room for the people that mattered the most to her and shared herself freely with each one.

Hazel was pre-deceased by her parents Charles Tennyson Miller and Ophelia Joyner Miller of Brunswick, GA, her loving husband Allen “Rubbs” Williams of New Haven, CT, a daughter Monica Denise Blaine of New Haven, CT and a brother Joseph Perkins of Saint Augustine, FL. Ms. Hazel leaves to mourn two daughters Sandra R. Miller of North Franklin, CT, and Stephanie M. Covington (Michael) of Hamden, CT. Eight grandchildren: John Duarte, Travis Minick, Monique Duarte, Alicia Duarte, Damaris Duarte, Brandi Fullwood, Devonna Duarte, and Kiara Duarte and eleven great grandchildren, and a host of friends.

The family wishes to thank everyone for their acts of kindness.

Services for Ms. Hazel will be held directly in The Church of Blessed Sacrament, 321 Circular Avenue Hamden, CT 06514 on Friday, September 30, 2022, at 12 noon. Visitation from 11:30am -12pm. Anyone wishing to express their condolences can express them at colonialfunerals.com.