Hazel Black

Hazel C. (Owens) Black, 68, was called home on Monday,

December 16, 2013.

She was the loving wife of the late James O. (Sonny) Black, who passed away March 13, 2005. She was born in Reading, PA to the late Paul Sr. and Mozelle (Nichols) Owens.

Hazel was most proud to have been offered an opportunity to be a teammate on the citywide track team at Southwest Middle School during her matriculation as a student in the Reading School District.

She was a graduate of the Reading Senior High School. She attended Reading Area Community College and

Albright College with studies in business and law. She also attended Berks Real

Estate Institute.

She was employed for 26 years as a property manager with the Catholic Senior Housing and Healthcare Services Inc., last working on November 4, 2013.

Hazel was an active

member in the Washington Presbyterian Church. She was the former moderator of their Women's Association and also served

as Commissioner to the

Lehigh Presbytery.

Hazel diligently worked in her community by volunteering her time as well as holding memberships in

various organizations: Team Mother for the Rising

Sun Athletic Association; Berks Housing Opportunities; Family Living Advisory Committee of the Penn State Berks County Cooperative Extension and Reading Berks Human Relations Commission, where she

often spoke fondly about the individuals who worked to form and establish the

Reading Berks Human

Relations Commission in the late 1960s.

She was a highly mo-tivated member of the Berks County Republican Committee and was elected to the

position of Judge of Elections in Berks County, last having worked on November 5, 2013.

She was very proud of her picture having been taken with former president

Gerald Ford in 1987 at a town hall lecture at Widow Finney's. Hazel's utmost dedication to others and her community was very important to her.

On February 18, 2012, her dedication and charismatic nature was recognized by the Central Pennsylvania

African American Museum (CPAAM). Hazel enjoyed cooking, reading, traveling and jazz music. She often stated she maintains faith and preservation in everything she attempts.

Hazel had numerous

memorable moments, including the births of her

children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by: Valerie and Denise Phelps and son

Roland Phelps Jr.; eight grandchildren: Nathan Phelps; Le'Tasha (Phelps) Pettit (husband Eric);

Marquis Phelps, Tamar Phelps, Chaz Phelps, Amber Phelps, Alyssa Phelps and Julius Gonzalez; and eleven great-grandchildren; two

sisters: Doris (Owens) Appling and Betty Owens; one uncle, Henry Langston, and a host of nieces,

nephews, cousins and friends.

She was predeceased by two brothers: Paul Owens Jr. and Willie Owens.

A memorial service to

celebrate Hazel's life will be held Monday, December 23, 2013 at 10:15 a.m. in the Washington Presbyterian Church, 715 N. 10th St., Reading, PA 19604 with Rev. Laddie Benton, Pastor

officiating. Interment services will immediately follow to Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA, where she will be laid to rest alongside her loving

husband, James.

In lieu of flowers,

contributions may be made to the Hazel C. Owens Black Memorial at Washington Presbyterian Church, 715 N. 10th St. Reading, PA 19604.

Ministry of comfort is

entrusted to T.J Baker

Funeral Home, Inc., 222 North Front Street, Reading, PA 19601.