Hazel Thompson Smith's Obituary
Hazel Thompson Smith, 96, of Albemarle, passed away on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at Trinity Place.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in the Stanly Funeral Home Chapel, Albemarle, with Pastor Ron Loflin officiating. Burial will follow at Stanly Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care from 9:30 until 10:45 AM, prior to the service.
Born March 7, 1929, in Stanly County, Hazel was the daughter of the late Swink Alexander Thompson and Lucy Hatley Thompson. A devoted homemaker and former member of Grace Baptist Church, she was lovingly known as “Nannie.” Her family remembers her as nurturing and compassionate; an excellent cook, a determined and independent spirit, and a tireless gardener with a remarkable green thumb. Each October she planted a thousand pansies, and she could coax life and color from any patch of earth.
Hazel loved being outdoors and was rarely without a purposeful walk; often covering miles on foot while carrying cakes to her son’s business. “Hey, sweetie,” was her trademark greeting to those she loved. “Blueberry Hill” by Fats Domino was her favorite song; for years she called the radio station every morning to request it, and they soon knew her voice by heart. She delighted in caring for animals; especially her cats; and her daughter Donna fondly recalls how Hazel spoiled the horses. Above all, she took great pride in serving her family good, home-cooked meals.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Max Herman Smith, in 2003.
Survivors include her son, Terry Mitchell Smith (Penny) of New London; her daughter, Donna Smith Baucom (Tommy) of Rockwell; her brother, Ronnie Thompson (Rovetta) of Albemarle; two grandchildren, Tracy B. Heglar (Terence) of Rockwell and Kelly T. Baucom (Katherine) of Wrightsville Beach; and five great-grandchildren: Dalton Heglar, Max Heglar, Scout Baucom, James Baucom, and Indie Baucom.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.
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