Hazel Mae Moore

Hazel Mae Moore was born on Feb. 12, 1935, to the union of Buster and Nonia Harris Moore, in Maringouin. She was one of 11 children. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at an early age, and was baptized at Mount Gideon Baptist Church by the Rev. W.M. Pitcher. She served on the Usher Board for more than 40 years. She was the mother of two children, James Monroe Spears (deceased) and Wanda Spears Ventress. Hazel departed this Earthly life on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. She leaves to cherish her memory a devoted daughter, Wanda and husband Jerome Ventress, Maringouin; daughter-in-law, Marva Spears, Baton Rouge; four sisters, Geraldine and husband Charlie Gougish, Maringouin, Dorothy Williams and Isabel Clayton, both of Los Angeles, and Mary and husband Jimmy Dixon, of Cypres, Calif.; brother, Leon Moore, of Los Angeles; sister-in-law, Lilian Moore, Los Angeles; brother-in-law, Willie Brown Sr., of Port Allen; three grandsons, Joseph Jr., Jeremy and Jerard Ventress, all of Maringouin; godchild, Crystal Williams, of Port Allen; and a host of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, whom she loved dearly. She had a very close friend, Janie Sims, who was like a sister to her. Another close friend, Doris Marie, too her to doctors appointments and on a monthly trip to Walmart. Additional close friends, Pauline Crump, Rose Lee Lockman and Dorothy Glenn, checked on her daily. She also had numerous other friends and church members that she considered family, and words cannot express her love for her pastor, the Rev. Pitcher, who taught her the "Word." Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, Buster and Nonia Moore; son, James Monroe Spears; three brothers, Buster, Harry and Eddie Moore; two sisters, Mildred Brown and Priscilla Edwards; and special friend, Ivory Wiley. Hazel retired from Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center after 44 years of service in the dietary department. She had a humble spirit and spent her free time reading and studying her Bible. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2001 and underwent chemotherapy and radiation. After months of recuperation, the cancer went into remission. Even on her worst days, she never stopped praying and reading her Bible. She loved going to church and until her health failed her, Bible study. Hazel enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her daughter Wanda, her great-grandchildren, and her sister, Geraldine. She enjoyed eating good food, whether it was eating out at nice restaurants or good home cooking. She was no longer able to prepare meals, so she relied on her daughter, Wanda, Sister Geraldine, and other friends to make sure her nutritional needs were met. Hazel enjoyed life and her family, but most of all she enjoyed going to church and praising and serving the Lord. Visiting at Mount Gideon Baptist Church, 77700 West Oak Lane, Maringouin, on Friday, Jan. 27, from 4 p.m. until wake and religious service at 7 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Reginald Pitcher. Dismissal on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m., with interment in the church cemetery.