Hazel B. Ethridge

Hazel Butler Ethridge, loving wife, mother and grandmother went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. She was born on April 3, 1932 in Barrow County but spent most of her life in Gwinnett County. Hazel graduated from Dacula High School in 1949 where she played basketball and won the Atlanta Journal’s Top Girls’ Athlete Trophy her senior year. Her point total while on the basketball team was 1300. In 1951, she married James T. Ethridge, and they had one daughter in 1956. Hazel and J.T. enjoyed many camping and fishing trips with family and friends over the years. She was a wonderful cook and was always baking items to bring to friends and those in need. Walking was one of her favorite pastimes, and she continued to walk at Sunrise Assisted Living, counting the laps she made along the hallways. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville since 1957. Hazel worked in the accounting field beginning at the Hoover Company for 10 years, at Vantress Farms, Inc. for 20 years and then Southeast Culvert for a number of years. After her days of full-time employment, she worked part-time at Williams’ Dress Shop for 10 years and Sheila’s Consignment shop for 12 years, both in Lawrenceville. Hazel also served as the Sunday School Secretary at First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville from 1973 until 2013. She also served as a volunteer at Gwinnett Medical Center for 12 years. Hazel is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, James T. Ethridge; mother, Annie Lou McClung Butler; father, W.O. Butler; step-mother, Willie Butler; mother-in-law, Nellie Ethridge; both grandparents; a special aunt and uncle, Mollie Butler and Johnnie Butler; brothers and sisters, Evelyn B. King, Vernon Butler, Lola B. Danforth, William “Bill” Butler, Barbara B. Martin, Geraldine B. Everett, John Perry Butler, Garvin Butler, Wanda B. Paden; brothers-in-law, Thomas King and Marcus Martin; and sister-in-law, Juanita Butler Hazel is survived by her loving daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Bill Thompson; her wonderful grandsons, Bryan Thompson and Ben Thompson (Samantha Reff); and her grand-dog, Molly. She is also survived by her sisters, Joy and Raburn Peevy, Connie and Rev. Trenton Swanson, Shirley and Billy Paden; brother, Ronnie and Carol Butler; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Butler Tallent, Carlene Butler and Bessie Ethridge Kirby; brothers-in-law, George Danforth and Rev. L.T. Everett; and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service to honor Hazel’s life will be held on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Wages & Sons Gwinnett location with Dr. Lamar Holley and Rev. Inman Houston officiating. Interment will follow the service at Gwinnett Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 15, 2018 beginning at 12:00 and continuing until the time of the service. The family would like to thank MeSun Hospice and Sunrise Assisted Living for assisting with her care since November. The family would also like to thank her in-home caregivers prior to her move to assisted living – Brenda Autry, Yvonne Caldwell, Melissa Stevens and Marcie Michelotti – mother loved you all.