Hazel Simpson Mrs. Freeman

LILESVILLE - Mrs. Hazel Simpson Freeman, 91, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2015 at Carolinas Medical Center Pineville. Funeral services will be 11:00am Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at Olivet United Methodist Church with her niece, Rev. Stacey Simpson Duke and Rev. Andrea McCumber officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will greet friends from 6:00pm until 8:00pm Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at Leavitt Funeral Home and other times at the home. Hazel was born on September 21, 1924 in Anson County, NC. She was the daughter of the late Willie Clyde Simpson and the late Thelma Goodwin Simpson. She was a graduate of Lilesville High School. After rearing five children, she worked for the NC Cooperative Extension Service for several years. She later achieved her dream of becoming a teacher by earning a Bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She taught special needs students in the Anson County School System for a number of years. Hazel was a faithful longtime member of Olivet United Methodist Church. She loved to participate in church activities, especially encouraging others to attend. She enjoyed playing Scrabble, doing word puzzles, reading and writing. At one point she had over 100 pen pals. She loved music, family gatherings and genealogy. She co-authored a book 'Our Heroes of World War II,' an Anson County historical compilation. In recent years, she developed a love of technology and current trends. She enjoyed staying up to date with family and friends on Facebook. You could always count on Hazel's positive outlook being shared with others through social media. Surviving are her loving husband of nearly 67 years, Eugene; her children, Scott (Nancy) Freeman and Mike Freeman both of Lilesville, Dare (Keith) Ford of Hendersonville and Rebecca Freeman of Lumberton; her daughter-in-law, Cora Freeman of Wadesboro; her grandchildren, Michael (Jennifer) Craven of Swannanoa, Victoria (Brian) Capell of Monroe, Elizabeth (Michael) Ferguson of Asheville, Scarlett Freeman of New York, NY, Andrew (Porshe) Ford of Hendersonville, Angela (Jonathan) Schulz of Troy, and Scottia (Fred) Brown of Wadesboro; and her nine great-grandchildren. She was anticipating the arrival of her tenth great-grandchild in March 2016. Also surviving are her brother and sister, Col. (Ret) Robert B. 'Bob' Simpson of Columbus, GA, and Alta Feldman of Vero Beach, FL; her nieces, nephews, cousins and their families. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Donald and Larry Simpson, son Richard Freeman and grandchildren Blake Freeman and Anna Ford. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Olivet United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Martha Dennis Goodwin, 3788 Stanback Ferry Rd., Lilesville, NC 28091. The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfuneralhomewadesboro.com.