Gwendolyn "Gwen" Yvonne Hairston Hazel, 73, entered into eternal peace on Thursday, August 7, 2014 at her home in Kernersville, North Carolina.

Gwen was born on August 30, 1940, the daughter of the late Jesse and Mary Hairston. Mary and Jesse were very special people, and their depth of spirit was always apparent in their daughter. Gwen worked as a Lab Assistant with North West hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Later, she worked as a Teacher's Assistant with 35th Street School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She retired from the City of Winston-Salem as a Tax Assistant after 20 years of service. Her colleagues, turned friends, celebrated her successes and contributions upon her retirement.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Emma Hairston.

She leaves many precious memories to be cherished by her loving husband, Frank Hazel; her sons, Aubrey Hairston (Patricia) of Roanoke, VA and Michael Hazel (Becky) of Boise, ID; her daughter, Sharon Hazel Beatty (Anthony) Waxhaw, NC; her grandchildren, Aubree Rae Hazel, Aaron Michael Hazel, Ashley Lauren Beatty, Michael Anthony Beatty, and Jordan Marie Beatty; her sisters, Doris Hairston Austin of Baltimore, MD and Mary "Liz" Middlebrook (Larry) of Roanoke, VA; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Services will be held at 1pm Thursday, August 14, 2014 at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2400 Dellabrook Rd. Winston-Salem, NC 27105. Burial will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 12noon until 1pm on Thursday at the Church.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be donated to her Mosaic of Hope Webpage, available on August 14, 2014 via debit/credit card or to the American Cancer Society, 4A Oak Branch Dr. Greensboro, NC 27407 at 1-800-227-2345.