Hazel Peace Amos

HAZEL LEATRICE PEACE AMOS: A TRIBUTE

Hazel Peace Amos, “you were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on this earth by the Master Craftsman.” (Quotation by Max Lucado)

WHO WAS HAZEL PEACE AMOS? Hazel, was born in Waverly, Virginia, and was the daughter of Joseph Leavi Peace and Lizzie Corean Sykes Peace. Joseph Peace was a graduate of St. Paul College in Virginia, a rural postman, and a funeral director and embalmer in the family’s business, George W. Peace and Son Funeral Home, which served communities in Wakefield, Williamsburg, and other areas. Hazel’s father died leaving her mother as a young widow with the responsibility to rear three little girls. Her sisters, Ruth and Barbara, were nine years old and 18 months old respectively; Hazel was seven years old. Lizzie Peace refused to separate the family and while living in Waverly, Virginia, she supported the family by growing a variety of vegetables, raising a rooster and hen, and washing the laundry of white persons for fifty cents a basket in an obese black pot in her backyard while she worked in her beautiful flower garden. After the family moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lizzie Peace worked as the supervisor of the Negro women’s restroom at Federal Enameling and Stamping Company, a company that made cookware, located in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. Hazel’s mother, a true Christian and a real model of Christlikeness, sent all of her daughters to college with the help of God, and her daughters graduated with honors. “Trust God, and God will take care of you,” is the motto that guided Hazel’s mother.

WHO WAS HAZEL PEACE AMOS? Hazel always enjoyed reading and she would take her older sister’s books and read, read, read. This motivated her mother to go to the Waverly Board of Education to get permission to buy another textbook, because during this time, parents were required to purchase their child’s textbooks. Hazel passed her love of reading to her daughter, Gena, and the two have a library on the main floor of their home that has the design of the public library. Their library is so large that Hazel described it as really being a “library of libraries.” The library contains fiction and non-fiction books, religious books, books written by and about African Americans and the African-American experience, poetry books, literature books, various translations of Bibles, books by literary scholars, books about health and wellness, grammar books, and the list is endless! The books are even arranged according to these categories. At age ninety-five, Hazel read a variety of books including books by President Jimmy Carter, Dr. Charles Stanley, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Malcolm Nance (world-renowned global genius), Professor/Attorney Paul Butler (former federal prosecutor and Georgetown University law professor), Jon Meacham (presidential historian), Katy Tur (NBC and MSNBC correspondent), Valerie Jarrett (public servant/leader and longest-serving senior advisor in the Obama White House), Professor Timothy Snyder (Levin Professor of History at Yale University), and the list is unending. She also read and carefully studied the Scriptures and she commented, “I still enjoy God’s Word, the Holy Book.” She encourages everyone to “start reading today!!!”

WHO WAS HAZEL PEACE AMOS? Miss Florence Shocklyn, a native of New York, became a teacher in the tiny town of Waverly, Virginia, where she taught an English class in the fifth grade. Even though the school, Sussex County Training School, had no cafeteria and no gymnasium and the students ate boxed lunches on the lawn, Shocklyn challenged and motivated her students to advance to higher levels. At that time, students attending black schools had to use the term TRAINING SCHOOL, an intentionally misleading term, because the students were not juvenile delinquents, and their parents were CHRISTIANS. The students were able to work on the high-school level and they enjoyed every moment. Seats were never assigned and Hazel sat in the middle of the front row so that she could observe closely. In fact, Hazel skipped three grades, and this enabled her to reach the same grade as her older sister, Ruth. Every year from elementary school through graduation from high school, Hazel received the English pin. Not only did Hazel consider it a joy to be in Miss Shocklyn’s class, she also decided to become an English teacher while she was a student in Shocklyn’s class. Hazel taught English for 40 ½ years and Miss Florence Shocklyn was her model throughout her teaching career.

WHO WAS HAZEL PEACE AMOS? Because Hazel skipped three grades, she and her sister continued in the same grade until they graduated from college. Hazel and Ruth postponed entering Virginia State College, located in Petersburg, Virginia, for one year so that the two of them could work at Federal Enameling and Stamping Company to save money to purchase items that they would need for college; this also enabled their mother to continue to work and save money for their tuition and books. While she attended Virginia State, Hazel was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and her sister, Ruth, was also initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha. During her attendance at Virginia State College, now Virginia State University, Hazel was a member of Iota Sigma Lambda Honorary Society and the Sigma Tau Delta English Honorary Society. She was also the recipient of the English award as a result of being the highest ranking student each year in English. Hazel was an honor graduate of Virginia State where she received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English and history and also received the degree of Master in Letters in English literature, speech, public speaking, and education from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she also pursued postgraduate work.

WHO WAS HAZEL PEACE AMOS? After graduating from Virginia State, Hazel began her teaching career at Huntington High School in Newport News, Virginia. She and Marvin Amos attended Virginia State at the same time and after the two married, Hazel relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple became the proud parents of Gena Renee, their one and only child, who provided them with a lifetime of pure joy. Gena integrated Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, and became a trailblazer because Hazel’s obstetrician, Dr. Patricia Ann Lawrence, refused to use the inadequate facilities at the Good Samaritan Hospital, the Negro Hospital in Charlotte. Hazel’s professional background afforded her the opportunity to teach students on all academic levels from the eighth grade to the senior year in college. Her other teaching positions were in Charlotte, North Carolina: Northwest Junior High School (English, history, journalism, and speech), Johnson C. Smith University (composition and literature), and East Mecklenburg High School (English). As a true believer in utilizing meaningfully unique ideas in the school, in the church, in the home, and in the community, Hazel changed the ordinary to the extraordinary. At Huntington High School, she was the adviser for freshmen, the sophomore chairperson of the English Department, and the co-chairperson of the student newspaper, The Huntington Mirror. While teaching at Northwest Junior High, she and a co-worker wrote and directed The Many Faces of Northwest, a refreshingly different type of Awards Day program. She also served as the faculty adviser of The Northwest Cub, a publication that received national recognition for two consecutive years for participation in an essay contest sponsored by the National Tuberculosis Association. Some of her numerous accomplishments while she served as a teacher at Johnson C. Smith University included editor-in-chief of a college handbook, drama and speech coach, writer of new sophomore college programs, and writer of a variety of the syllabi for college programs. Hazel was bestowed the honor of poet laureate of Johnson C. Smith University and was the creator, director, and adviser of the Writing Center. Her unique idea not only enabled her to win an award but also involved the participation of everyone on the campus – from the custodians to the president of the university. The Writing Center was a workshop, a laboratory, and a library. At East Mecklenburg High School, Hazel served as the chairperson of the Hugh O. Brian Leadership Program, prepared presentations for intercultural workshops, and served on school and departmental committees. As a result of nominations by two of her students, her name was included in the first two editions of Who’s Who Among American Teachers. Hazel not only taught her students English but also taught them how to be good citizens. She cherished a pen and clock set from one of her East Mecklenburg students that contained a plaque stating, “Hazel Amos, the teacher who opened more than books. She opened MINDS!”

WHO WAS HAZEL PEACE AMOS? Hazel was reared in a Christian home and environment – her grandfather taught the men’s Bible Class in Sunday school and her grandparents were members of Liberty Baptist Church in Waverly, Virginia. Her father was a Sunday school superintendent, and her mother was an active church member wherever she resided serving as a member in the gospel choir, Sunday school, nurses guild, missionary society, and organizer of many church activities like The Rainbow Tea, an event that was held annually for many years. Hazel’s parents lived Christian lives and demonstrated Christian principles to Hazel and her sisters; people knew that they were children of Almighty God. Some of Hazel’s many church activities at Simpson-Gillespie United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, included serving as church historian, liturgist, member of the United Methodist Women, chairperson and co-ordinator of numerous Sunday school and church programs where she utilized her skills of planning, writing, organizing, and presenting – National Family Week, Christian Education Month, heritage programs, Get-Out-the-Vote Campaign in the church and surrounding communities, and co-ordinator of major fundraising events that were not only financially successful but also highly informative. She was also a member of the Intergenerational Choir and the Chancel Choir, and the president, historian, and member of the Soul-to-Soul Gospel Notes. Hazel attended Sunday school her entire life; at Simpson-Gillespie, she served as assistant superintendent of the Sunday school, she taught the Elementary III-IV, V-VI classes, the Junior Class, and Adult Bible Class I, and Gena was one of her students. After her husband’s death, Hazel moved to Saginaw to live with her daughter, Gena, and during her membership at Bethel A.M.E. Church she attended Sunday school and served as a substitute teacher, she was a member of the Christina M. Goines Missionary Society, she co-ordinated the heritage program and fair as part of the church’s anniversary celebration, and she wrote and presented moving dramatic presentations for The Bethel Male Chorus anniversary programs for many years. As an active member of Ames United Methodist Church in Saginaw, Hazel served with her daughter as worship leader on first Sundays, presented original histories of hymn writers and hymns as an introduction to hymns sung by The Chorus Singers, served as devotional leader for the Mary and Martha Circle of the United Methodist Women (UMW) and was a member of the UMW, The Chapel Belles and ABC Sunday school classes. Hazel also enjoyed being the senior member of the Encounter Bible Study where she regularly enlightened the class with her wisdom and life experiences. She attended the weekly Bible study until the Sunday before her homegoing. She also attended various special Bible studies presented by Pastor Scott Lindenberg.

WHO WAS HAZEL PEACE AMOS? She and Gena will be forever grateful to Almighty God for the opportunities to visit many places throughout the United States and abroad before the Pandemic arrived. The two enjoyed traveling to various places in the United States and some of the places included Memphis, Tennessee (National Civil Rights Museum, Peabody Hotel, W. C. Handy’s house), Nashville, Tennessee (Fisk University and The Upper Room) Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose (Winchester House), and San Diego, California, Atlanta, Georgia (The King Center), Maryland, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, and New York (Broadway plays, Rockefeller Center, and the United Nations). The summer before Gena entered the fifth grade, Hazel and Gena traveled abroad to various cities in Switzerland, Italy, France, and Austria. Hazel and Gena traveled with members of their family (on Hazel’s mother’s side), on Parker-Sykes family reunion cruises to the Bahamas and Mexico. Hazel and Gena took many memorable trips to Traverse City, Michigan, where they attended many plays and the annual Shakespearean Festival on the campus of Interlochen Center for the Arts. When the two traveled by car, Gena was the pilot and Hazel was her co-pilot.

WHO WAS HAZEL PEACE AMOS? Hazel enjoyed many hobbies.

   > Writing greeting cards, devotionals, narratives, and poetry were highly enjoyable on Hazel’s lists of hobbies. She enjoyed writing unrhymed poetry and poetry that was suitable for the family members of all ages to enjoy together. Hazel, the lyricist, and Jacqueline Hairston, the composer, worked together in the publication of a variety of songs including “Nowhere to Lay His Head,” a Christmas spiritual, “He Saw That It Was Good,” a Christian song, SIDNEY POITIER READS POETRY OF THE BLACK MAN, and “In the Beginning–God!,” a song that won first prize in the nonprofessional level in the statewide contest in North Carolina.  

   > Another one of Hazel’s hobbies was public speaking from childhood through adulthood before a variety of audiences, conducting seminars, speaking to the students for the National Library Celebration, presenting original dramatic presentations, and portraying the role of Lena Younger (Mama) in Lorraine Hansberry’s Raisin in the Sun for two consecutive nights. 

   > Listening to a variety of music including anthems, gospels, spirituals, hymns, light opera, jazz, country, and the music of big bands also brought hours of joy to Hazel’s life. 

   > Hazel collected more than a hundred cups from the places that she and Gena visited. After moving to Saginaw, Hazel and Gena remodeled their home and a special place was built to display the cups that Hazel enjoyed collecting. Hazel also collected buttons with the faces of famous people on them and with various messages on them. She also collected magnets, bookmarks, coins, nativity scenes, nativity and other kinds of snow globes, calendars, and picture postcards

WHO WAS HAZEL PEACE AMOS? Because she believed that a Christian should have extensive knowledge of local, state, national, and international news, Hazel had a vast knowledge of current events. She watched the news daily and watched MSNBC avidly. She memorized the names of the reporters, the correspondents, and the commentators and was a wealth of information about the elected officials. Walter Cronkite and the Evening News and The Huntley-Brinkley Report were favorites of hers. Her interest in current events motivated her to become a self-appointed political analyst. She often told others, “Nobody appointed me. I appointed myself, and the appointment has become a LIFE-TIME APPOINTMENT!” She enjoyed holding animated discussions about politics with Gena, other family members, and friends. She was passionate about voting and before each election, she wrote a letter of exhortation to her Parker-Sykes Family members reminding them that an important responsibility of a Christian is to vote regularly and responsibly. She also contributed to the campaigns of many Democratic elected officials.

WHO WAS HAZEL PEACE AMOS? Hazel was a generous contributor of her time, talents, and finances. Some of her favorite charities included Shriners Hospital for Children, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Southern Poverty Law Center, Carter Center, United Negro College Fund, UNICEF K.I.N.D. fund to provide desks and scholarships for children in Malawi, Teen Challenge, Brenan Center for Justice, Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, In Touch Ministries, Meharry Medical College, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and the list is limitless. Time and time again, Hazel recited these beautiful words by John Wesley: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, as long as ever you can.” Hazel’s life reflected the words of John Wesley.

HAZEL PEACE AMOS WHO WAS SHE? She was more than a wife, a mother, a sister, the matriarch of the Parker-Sykes family, and Queen Mother, a title bestowed upon her by some dear friends. She was a friend, a helper, a teacher, a family treasure, a woman of elegance, eloquence, and excellence, a cheerful giver, a peace pilgrim, and an activist. Above all, she was a humble and faithful servant of the Lord, and she enjoyed her work for the Master. Hazel Peace Amos passed away peacefully on her mother’s birthday, May 10, 2023, at Covenant-Cooper, and her daughter and best friend, Gena, was by her side. Her husband of fifty years, Marvin Ogland Amos, preceded her in death on January 26, 2005.

In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates contributions to some of the favorite charities of Hazel Peace Amos that are included in this Tribute. To date, twenty-nine Bibles have been donated in Hazel’s memory to be distributed by members of The Gideons International to help transform lives through the Word of God. Hazel’s legacy continues to live on!

“Life is a work of faith, a labor of love, a heart of service.”

~ Hazel Peace Amos ~