Hazel Reece

Hazel Matilda Rhodes Reece, who was born on Jan. 11, 1925, departed this life on Feb. 7, 2015.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William C. "Billie" Reece, and her parents, Solomon and Cora Florence Jarman Rhodes. Hazel is survived by her sister, Daisy Rhodes Burns of Hubert, the youngest of nine children; her children: Betty Reece Shepard and husband Gary, William "Bill" Reece and wife Maggie, and Jo Reece Flowers and husband William, all of Jacksonville; grandchildren: Stephanie Shepard Munoz of Jacksonville, Matthew Shepard of Wilmington, Tiffany Reece Forsythe of Wilmington, David Reece and wife Lauren of Dunn, William Avril Reece Flowers and wife Ashley of Jacksonville and AMAA Mary Jassmine Reece Flowers, U.S. Navy of Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Shepard Munoz of Jacksonville, Wyatt Forsythe of Wilmington and Brayden Reece of Dunn.
Hazel was a highly respected quilter who received many awards, including: the N.C. Folk Heritage Award and the Mordechai Needlework Society Award. She was featured in the N.C. Quilt Book and magazines, such as Lady's Circle Patchwork. Hazel also has a quilt in the collection of the N.C. Museum of History. Her work also is hanging at Duke Regional Medical Center and Mitsubishi Corporation.
Hazel was cherished by all who called her mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She was generous and unselfish, faithful and kind, and loving and compassionate. Hazel will be greatly missed.
The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Jones Funeral Home, Jacksonville.
A graveside service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.
Electronic condolences may be left for the family at Jonesfh.org.