Eleanor Millsaps Hazell

Eleanor Millsaps Hazell, age 92, of Waynesville, passed away peacefully, in hospice care in Hendersonville, on June 27, 2025. She was born in West Point, Mississippi on August 10, 1932. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Rodney Hazell, who died in 1960. Also preceding her in death were her brother, John Howard Millsaps, Jr., and her parents, John Howard and Eleanor Hall Millsaps.

She is survived by her four children: Howard Hazell of Choctaw, OK, Julie Hazell Davis of Waynesville, Celeste Hazell Flowers of Gig Harbor, WA, and Bill Hazell of Hendersonville. She also had ten grandchildren: Kellie Hazell, Brad Hazell, Adriana Bowers, Jessica Williams, Laurie Davis, Jim Davis, Cori Flowers, Shannin Flowers Wachholz, Cas Hazell, Tina Hazell; four great-grandchildren: Andrew Robida, Aubrey Bowers, Aidan Bowers, and Austin Wachholz; and several nieces and nephews.

Eleanor and her four children moved to Waynesville in 1965, where she taught piano to many local students, providing over 70 lessons per week at times. She also enjoyed a very full life, which included reading, cooking, baking, sewing, smocking, painting, writing stories and poetry, and traveling. She was involved in bridge clubs and book clubs. She was a member of the Altrusa Club of Waynesville and sang in the choir at St. Andrews Episcopal Church. She went on to become the organist and choir director at St. Andrews and obtained an Education for Ministry from the School of Theology of the University of the South.

Her musical interests began early in her childhood and carried over to a career as a piano teacher and church organist. Her church families were a large part of her life, wherever she resided. Her faith had an immense impact in her short marriage as Gordon began his own religious journey from her example.

In Eleanor’s own words, “God’s call to us - He calls us where we are, not where we would like to be or should be. He calls us in our weakness and calls us into our strength and into our perfection. And scripture meets us where we are, as well as where we have been and where we will be. It is a promise that keeps on going.”

A service is scheduled to celebrate Eleanor’s life at 11:00 AM Wednesday, July 2, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Canton. The family will receive visitors from noon to 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 1, at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, PO Box 947, Canton, NC 28716. Please designate for “Music Fund”.

The care of Ms. Hazell has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville