Wednesday
December 18th, 2024
3:22AM
Hazel Ruth Davis Megahee, age 97, of Gainesville, GA passed away peacefully Thursday, May 4th, 2023. She was preceded in death by her soulmate husband, Marcus Bernard Megahee, in February 1971.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12:00 pm Friday, May 12th, at Memorial Park Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501. The family will receive friends at 11:00 am prior to the service at the funeral home.
A brief graveside service will be held in Warner Robins at Magnolia Park Cemetery on Tuesday, May 23 at 1:00 pm. All friends of the Megahee Family are invited to attend.
Hazel was a true Southern Lady with a mischievous streak! She was much loved for her intelligence, sense of humor, creativity, and compassion. She loved writing and fiercely loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She taught us all to laugh at ourselves. Her humor and compassion will be greatly missed.
Hazel was born in Albany GA on July 31, 1925, to Fred Collie Davis and Lola Myers Davis. Hazel was an introvert, but her sense of humor ran deep and came out at unexpected times. She loved animals – especially dogs and cats – and delighted in their antics and in training them to do simple tricks.
Upon graduation from high school, she enlisted in the Navy Nurses Corp and received a scholarship to Nursing School. Soon afterwards, she was transferred to New York City to train at Bellevue Hospital.
Remember the iconic Time Magazine cover photo of a sailor kissing a girl in Times Square on VJ Day? That wasn’t her, but she was there in the crowd that day.
When World War II ended, she moved back to work at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Soon after, Cousin Lucille set up a blind date to introduce Hazel to Marc Megahee, who was a student in the Emory Dental School.
Sparks flew, and Hazel married Marc on October 17th, 1947. They lived in a trailer park just off Emory campus. Money was tight as Hazel worked at the hospital and Marc attended school and worked as a mechanic. Sons Kimberly Marion and William Davis were born while living in that trailer.
Hazel and Marc moved their family down to the bustling community of Warner Robins when Marc graduated from Dental School in 1953. Hazel settled in to be a Housewife and Mom for their family while Marc set up and ran his dental practice. In June of 1956, Hazel bore a daughter, Laura Kathleen.
In 1964, Hazel and Marc lost their son William Davis (“Davy”) in a tragic accident. This event laid a weight on Hazel’s shoulders for the rest of her life. The family is grateful that she will be reunited with Davy in Heaven.
Hazel was active in civic organizations in Warner Robins and was a past-president for both the Garden Club and the Women’s Club. She also participated in Ladies Toastmasters. She won bragging rights for defeating her own husband in a Toastmasters debate, an unprecedented event. The contest delighted husband Marc as much as it did Hazel.
In between maintaining a household, raising three kids, and working in civic organizations, Hazel found the time to write books. Her Atlanta-area based, Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries are still available on Amazon.com as the novel “The Madcap Heiress” by Hazel D. Megahee, and the novella “River’s Bend” by Hazel Davis Megahee.
After Marc passed on in 1971, Hazel returned to the nursing workforce for a few years at Houston County Hospital before retiring in Warner Robins. She was asked on occasion why she never remarried. Her answer was always the same: “I have already had the best husband. Anything else would be a disappointment.”
Hazel was a member at the First Baptist Church in Warner Robins from 1953 until 1985, when she moved to Lawrenceville GA to be near her grandchildren. In Lawrenceville, she joined the Berkmar United Methodist Church on Pleasant Hill Road and attended until she was physically unable.
Hazel is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Kim and Martha Megahee; her daughters, Laura Kathleen and Mary Ann Megahee; grandchildren, Kristen and James Kimmel, and Marcus Megahee; her great grandchildren, Jordan and Connor Kimmel. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Today, we know Hazel is reunited with her husband Marc, her son Davy, and her beloved granddaughter Megan Elizabeth. She has a new body and a new life in the arms of her Lord.
The family would very much like to thank the staff and nurses at the Chelsey Park Health and Rehabilitation facility for the love and friendship they showered upon Mom. We are forever grateful.
Hazel always loved literature, whether reading or writing, and she read books for as long as she was able. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to the Northeast Georgia Literary Society (501c3) at 505 Rienzi Court, Gainesville GA 30506.
Memorial Park Funeral Home North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Dr. is in charge of arrangements.
Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.
