Hazel Keturah Smith

OBITUARY FOR HAZEL KETURAH IVEY SMITH

Her Life Story

Hazel Keturah Ivey-Smith (Mamma, Miss Ivey, Sis Smith, Miss Puncie) entered this earth on April 5, 1937; in the district of Guatemala, in the parish of Portland, Jamaica to Beatrice Maud Cousins and Luther Wilson. She was the first of seven children. She attended Mt. Hermon All Age School. Hazel became a mother to her first child, Paulette Edwards at a young age. However, that did not stop her from pursuing her dream of becoming a seamstress. She was passionate about her gift of sewing and so she went on to learn dressmaking with an elder in her district. She became so good at her craft that she was one of the most sought after seamstresses in her community and beyond. She was also an excellent cook and she enjoyed farming, whether rearing animals or planting crops. Hazel went on to have four more kids: (Byron, Joan, Melvin, and Alric). Later in life she met and fell in love with her late husband Egbert Smith. The union produced two children, Rohan Smith and Una Smith-Lawrence.

Hazel migrated to the United State of America on October 16th, 1994 at the age of 57, and resided with her son Byron Thomas in Brooklyn, New York. Soon after her arrival in New York, she hit the ground running. To her, age was just a number. She wanted to make sure that her children and grandchildren would have a better and brighter future. She was a business woman with a goal. No job was too big or small for her to try. She worked as a Home Health Aide for many years and wherever her agency would send her, she would find her way without a Google Map or a cell phone. In a short period of time, Hazel accomplished far more than a lot of people in their lifetime. She was an extraordinary woman, a phenomenal woman, and a woman with a heart of goal. She loved her family and with that being said, she petitioned for all of her children and grandchildren to reside with her in the United States of America. Hazel was a member of the East Flatbush Church of God (now EUMC) for many years and volunteered at Hope Center Development Corporation, where she helped to distribute food to those in need. She lived a fulfilled life, always finding time to enjoy herself on cruises and Broadway shows. She had some ups and downs but as Maya Angelou says "Still, she Rise".

After a long period of illness, on April 23, 2024 our beloved Hazel took one last breath and said "goodbye world, I am going up to yonder to be with my Lord and Savior."

She will be forever missed, forever loved and forever remembered by her family and friends. Her seven kids (mentioned above), her five step-kids (Martin, Albert, Clover, Dalvin, and Eunice Smith-Nunes). Hazel was blessed bountifully and abundantly with 16 grandkids: Denver, Ehoan, George, Carlton, Donnette, Deon, Tamara, Venice, Fiona, Tara, Tomica, Tajera, Andre jr., Lindsey, Gianna and Hayden (she affectionately called Cowboy), and 20 great grandkids. She is survived by her brothers: Vincent Cousins and Linval Cousins (Lennie), sisters: Joyce Cousins, Gloria Cousins, Alston Cousins and Keith Cousins. She will also be missed by her Daughters-in-law: Judith Smith and Illette Grant, Son-in-law: Curzon Lawrence, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Sleep on our beloved and take your rest, until we meet again. Life will not be the same without you. May her soul rest in Peace.

Funeral services will be held on:

Saturday May 11, 2024

Viewing 8am-9am

Funeral service 9am-11AM

EBENEZER URBAN MINISTRY CENTER

660 POWELL STREET, BROOKLYN, N.Y. 11207

INTERMENT: The Evergreens Cemetery

1629 Bushwick Avenue

Brooklyn, N.Y.