Hazel Miller Utley

Hazel Miller Utley of Tuscaloosa, age 90, passed away on October 11, 2024, at her residence. Graveside Services will be held at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, with Doug (Buster) Shelley and Randy Beard officiating with Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to services at the funeral home.
She is survived by daughters, Charlotte Robertson, Beverly Tierce and Debbie Johnston (Ricky) and grandchildren, Shawnee Franklin (Tim), Robby Robertson (Candace), Jacob Utley, Megan Beard (Randy), Seazon Tierce Waldrop, Azia Patrick (Will), and Stoney Johnston (Autumn). She is survived by 13 great-grandchildren Skylar, Tate, Cayson, Saige, Ella, Caitlin, Nathan, Tanner, Braxton, Vintage, Rylin, Harper and RJ. She is also survived by her sisters, Bonnie Sellers, Ethel Earnest, Dale Smelley; and her brothers John Miller (Barbara) and Jack (Gail) Miller. And numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Claude Utley; her parents Baxter and Adell Miller; son Ricky Utley; sister Erlene Cunningham.
Pallbearers will be grandsons Robby Robertson, Tim Franklin, Jacob Utley, Stoney Johnston, Will Patrick, Tate Robertson, Cayson Franklin, Rylin Patrick and Nathan Beard.
Honorary Pallbearers will be past co-workers from Walmart Supercenter-Tuscaloosa, Staff at Caring Days Adult Daycare, Staff at Hospice West Alabama, Sitters – Margie Hagler and Martha Stewart, family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Caring Days Adult Daycare 943 31st Street East, Tuscaloosa or Hospice of West Alabama 3851 Loop Road, Tuscaloosa.
There is not enough time or words to write to explain what the word "mother" or "grandmother" meant to all who loved her. Whether it meant cooking with her in the kitchen, listening to her tell stories about her childhood, finding her working at Walmart, watching her read her books and do her word searches, listening to her sing with the Gaither's on TV, digging in her pantry for snacks (especially those lemon cookies), or just sitting there beside her soaking in all her wisdom. All of those things we will cherish for the rest of our lives, and we will never forget how blessed we were to have had one of God's angels here with us for 90 years. She could give the biggest hugs and light up the room with her smile. Most of all, she loved the Lord, ALL of us, and anyone else who came in her party. There will never be another like her. Her wings were ready; our hearts were not; but Heaven gained a beautiful angel, and we were beyond blessed to call her ours. Rest in peace Grandmother you left a wonderful legacy behind.