Hazel L. Miller

Hazel L. Miller was born on November 8, 1937, in Whigham, Georgia to parents, Mark and Ida Mae Odum. She had four siblings. At a very young age, Hazel and her siblings left Georgia with their father to start a new life in Florida. Upon relocating to Florida, Hazel and her siblings were raised by her aunt and uncle (Jewel and Arthur) in Orlando, Florida. They raised them in church and she was baptized as a child. Hazel became a young bride marrying and having her first child at the age of sixteen. She was the mother of five children (3 boys and 2 girls), and the loving doting grandmother of two grandboys, and a greatgrandmother to one granddaughter. Hazel was a kind, humble, caring, loving woman, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt, and friend to many. Everyone who knew her or just met her described her as a sweet soul. She loved her children unconditionally, sacrificing and putting them first above anything she ever desired or wanted. She was appreciative of the small things. She taught her daughters to value their peace and well-being, and not to value material things. Hazel was a homemaker. Her passion was interior decorating; her family home was always clean and well-kept. She would shop at thrift stores and flea markets before she would ever walk into a retail store. When she was in her late thirties, she decided to attend school to study interior decorating. But she gave up that dream to take care of the needs of her family, to adopt and raise her first grandchild. Hazel was a Godly woman in every aspect of her life. At one point, she and her two daughters became members of the First Baptist Church of Orlando. Being the Godly woman that she was when her two daughters were baptized, she was baptized again along with her daughters. She read her favorite Bible scripture, Psalm 91 every morning until she could no longer. She loved the Lord and during her illness, she was comforted by hearing sermons on the television; and every Gospel song was her favorite. As a testament of her spirit and kindness, during her illness whenever others would do for her, she would always say, “Thank You”. Her memory will be forever cherished by her family and she will be greatly missed. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents: Mark and Ida Mae Odum; Son, Bobby Lee Brown; Daughter-in-law, Patricia Brown; Siblings: Margaret Bartley, Earl Odum, and Addie Odum; Nephew, Andre Beckett and Tracy Utley; and Niece, Yvonne Bethea. She leaves to cherish her memory..Sons: Ronnie Lee Brown and Arthur Leroy Brown (Tammy), all of Orlando, Florida; Daughters: Barbara Brown and Paula D. Miller, both of Orlando, Florida; Sister, Mae Utley of Brooklyn, New York; 2 Grandchildren: Stevie Walker (Allaunie); and Jason Williams; 1 Great granddaughter, Saliyah Walker; Nephews: Carlos Beckett; Nieces: Sharon Bartley, Denise Smiley (Abe), and Evette Utley; and a host of other loving relatives and friends.

Tributes

Hazel L. Miller

November 8, 1937 - October 10, 2023