Hazel M. Kersh

Hazel Mize Kersh left this earth to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ, Friday, May 17, 2024, at the age of 97.

The funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m., May 28, 2024, at First Baptist Church, Waco with visitation preceding the service at 12:30 p.m. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, and she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Owen.

She was born Hazel Mae Mize on October 28, 1926, on a rural farm outside of Vian, Oklahoma. Her parents, Edgar William Mize and Nora Girty Mize were farm owners, and Hazel was an active participant in the many chores that farming necessitates. During her high school years, the family moved into town where Hazel loved and played sports. She became a star player on the Vian High School girls’ basketball team.

Following high school, Hazel attended Ft. Smith Arkansas Junior College. She attended Immanuel Baptist Church in Ft. Smith, and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior on Easter Sunday in 1946. At church, she met Owen Kersh when he returned home to Ft. Smith after serving in World War II. She loved telling her children that after one date with Owen, she broke the three other dates she had scheduled that week and became Owen’s exclusive girlfriend.

Hazel and Owen were married January 14, 1950, with Owen’s brother, Bill Kersh, officiating. The newly married Kersh family entered Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary that fall and both graduated with degrees in Religious Education in 1952. They served churches in Denison, Texas where their daughter Nancy was born on March 4, 1954. From Denison, they moved to serve the Lord in Ada, Oklahoma. In 1958, Hazel and Owen moved to serve in the First Southern Baptist Church in Tucson, Arizona, where their second daughter, Cindy was born. From Tucson, they moved to serve in the First Baptist Church in El Dorado, Arkansas, before coming to First Baptist Church in Waco, Texas on January 1, 1963. First Baptist Church of Waco became their home church for the rest of their lives.

Hazel served in many capacities in all their churches, and specifically in Waco, she served as General Secretary of Sunday School for 30 years. In addition, she started and taught Sunday School classes, taught in the yearly Vacation Bible School for the children and as she always said, “I served wherever Owen needed me.”

In August, 1979, Hazel suffered a heart attack at age 52. She had open heart bypass surgery in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Ochsner Clinic. Dr. Charles Shoultz of Waco has been her cardiologist since 1979. She praised him as being the best cardiologist and was so grateful to him for all his care and friendship over the years.

Hazel loved golf and was a member of Ridgewood Women’s Golf Association. She had many special friends there and was always quick to say that she hit a hole in one on two separate occasions. She had a life membership in the Parent-Teacher Association and was a lively member of the ABC club, also known as the Baylor Alum by Choice.

When she could no longer play golf and was well into her 80’s, she joined various bridge groups and enjoyed many hours with friends. Hazel walked daily at the mall with her beloved “mall friends” up until two weeks before her death.

Preceding Hazel in death was her husband, Owen; her parents, Edgar and Nora Mize; brothers, W.D. Mize, C.B. Mize, Don Mize; and her sister, Ruth Mize Fuller. All five siblings manifested their first heart problems at age 52.

Surviving members of the family include her daughters, Nancy Kersh-Walzel of Dallas and Cindy Spurlock and husband Joey of Dallas; her beloved granddaughters, Melissa Celeste and her husband, Gabe of Dallas, Bethany Hall and her husband, Ty of Waco, Julia Guy and her husband, James of Beaumont and Kaylee Spurlock of Dallas. Hazel is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Hailey Hassell of Waco; Laura Celeste, Charlotte Celeste, Anna Celeste of Dallas; Katy Hall, Robert Hall, Hudson Hall of Waco and Clayton Guy of Beaumont; as well as many nieces and nephews abound. To these children, Hazel’s name was Neenaw, and a wonderful Neenaw she was. All these children were the loves of her life, and to their “I love you Neenaw,” she would either answer, “I love you more,” or “I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.”

If desired, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Waco, Development Fund or the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children, Waco.

We invite you to leave a message or memory of Hazel on her “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.