Hazel J. CAPPS

NEWPORT NEWS - Hazel 'Betty' Jackson Capps, 93, passed on peacefully to be with Lord on April 27, 2012. She was born in Kenly, N.C., on Oct. 27, 1918. She was the daughter of Albert Jackson and Betty Spivey.
She graduated from Kenly High School where she played on the women's basketball team. She dedicated her early adult years helping her mother farm 50 acres of tobacco and cotton farm land. In 1941 she married Howard Nelson Capps. After a brief honeymoon, Howard left for Africa to serve in WWII while she served here at home as a "Rosie the Riveter" building airplanes.
Howard returned in 1945 and the couple returned to North Carolina farming. In 1951, their first son, Nelson Howard Capps was born and in 1953, Larry Jackson Capps was born. When the farming business proved to be too difficult for their young family, they packed their belongings and young family to move to Tidewater, Virginia, where they heard there were many job opportunities. Hazel worked at Plymouth Cordage to help while Howard started his own business in building. The family grew and eventually moved into their own home on Fairway Lane in the Hidenwood area of Newport News, Va. Hazel was busy with homemaking, gardening, and extending her hospitality to every family member in need.
Hazel was a strong advocate for her children and her family. She was her son, Larry's, biggest sports fan when he played football at Ferguson High, Hargrave Military Academy and later, Virginia Tech. When her spouse, Howard, had a massive stroke in 1975, Hazel went back to work full-time at Newport News Shipbuilding until she retired 10 years later. She spent her free time gardening, fishing and knitting/crocheting beautiful things for her family to cherish for many years to come.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Howard Nelson Capps; and eldest son, Nelson Howard Capps.
Left behind to cherish her memories are her son, Larry Jackson Capps and his spouse, Kimberly Maltby Capps; her niece, Melinda Briggs; and five grandchildren, Angela Capps Barbee, Lisa Capps, Hannah Joy Capps, Lydia Faith Capps, Jonathan Howard Capps; and two great-grandchildren, Eric Edwards and Evan Edwards.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2012, with burial following in Peninsula Memorial Park.
Arrangements are by W.J. Smith & Son Funeral Home in Newport News, Va.
Hazel had two grandchildren affected by autism spectrum disorders; so the family wishes expressions of sympathy to take the form of contributions to Autism Society of America.
Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. Please leave online condolences at www.wjsmithandsonfh.com. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.