Hazel Banks Reed
Posted: February 25, 2018
BARTAHATCHIE-CALEDONIA — Hazel Banks Walters Reed went home to be with Jesus Friday, February 23 at 10:40 p.m. Hazel Banks was born May 16, 1929, to James Bartley Walters and Alma Verdie Rhee Box Walters in the Bartahatchie Community, Monroe County, Mississippi. She was preceded in death by her parents, her one brother, James Walters, Jr., and a very dear friend Clayton ‘Bud’ Jones. Mrs. Reed graduated from Greenwood Springs High School in 1947 and attended Wood Junior College. She received her B.S. degree from Mississippi State College in 1950 and began a long career in education the next year at Ellison Ridge High School in Winston County. She taught at Slate Springs High School in Calhoun County, Hamilton High School in Monroe County before moving to Patterson, Louisiana where she taught for 13 years in the St. Mary Parrish schools. She moved back to Monroe County and taught at Hamilton High School from the fall of 1966 until retirement in 1992. She received her Master of Science degree from the University of Alabama in 1971. Her dedication to the field of education allowed her to impact many students and because of the longevity in Monroe County, she was able to teach the third generations of some families. Mrs. Reed also served as senior sponsor and Beta Club sponsor for numerous years. During her years at Hamilton High School she was named Star Teacher on four different occasions. In 2005, she received the Hamilton Community Outstanding Citizen Award. Mrs. Reed has three children: James T. Reed (Kathy) from Hamilton, Mississippi, Verdie Cile Reed Williams (Keith) from Laurelville, Ohio and Carlene Reed Hooper (Mike) from Chelsea, Alabama. All three of her children followed her footsteps in education with each receiving master’s degrees and teaching more than thirty years each. She has five grandchildren: Katie Reed Ji (Chong), Jarrod Williams (Jen), Morgan Hooper Drinkard (Rob), Kassidy Reed Briggs (Nathan) and Meredith Hooper Snider (Justin) and six great grandchildren: Liliana Williams, Emory Drinkard, Kaelyn Ji, William Drinkard, Annie Reed Briggs and Madison Williams. Three of the grandchildren have also followed their grandmother in the teaching profession. Sulphur Springs Primitive Baptist Church was a very important part of Mrs. Reed’s life as she became a member in 1943 and served as the church clerk for 39 years. Mrs. Reed was an active part of the community by being a member of the Bartahatchie Homemaker’s Club and the Bartahatchie RCDC. She was also a member of the National Society of Daughters of American Colonists. Mrs. Reed lived by the motto: “Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” She always took time to do those things that she felt would make a difference in the lives of others with her family, her church and her community. Visitation will be Sunday, February 25 from 3-5 p.m. at Tisdale-Lann Funeral Home in Aberdeen. Visitation Monday, February 26 at 10:30 a.m. and the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. will be held at Sulphur Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Bartahatchie, with Bro. Joe Nettles officiating. Pall bearers are Keith Box, Nathan Briggs, Alan Gurley, Chong Ji, Mickey McKenzie, and Justin Snider. Honorary pall bearers are Jeff Box, Larry Box, Edwin Chance, Jim Nolen, Dwayne Phipps, Joe Vaughan, James Earl Waddle, and Dan West. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Sulphur Springs Primitive Baptist Church.