Hazel Henderson
March 18, 1920 – June 15, 2012
Hazel Henderson, beloved member of Lake Shore since 1960, died peacefully last Friday morning at age 92. Wednesday afternoon we celebrated her long and good life.
Hazel and her husband, Wilson, moved to the Lake Air neighborhood of Waco just about the time the church was founded. Their three sons – Sam (Sammy), Ron (Ronny), and Gary (Gary Don) — grew up at Lake Shore. After their high school graduations, when Hazel was in her forties, she entered a new season of ministry when she started keeping preschoolers in her home during the week and teaching two-year-olds in Sunday School.
Her kind words, gentle smile, and genuine love endeared her to hundreds of preschoolers and their parents. The mother of three of those children, Anne Smajstrla, who taught with Hazel herself for a little while, said she’s grateful that in Miss Hazel’s room, her children received the most fundamental concept two year-olds needed to absorb: that they were made by God and that God always loves them. “It was a gift to have them soak up that message for a year or two, to have the same caregiver and teacher, month after month.”
As Sharlande said at the service, “Sitting in those little wooden chairs, it was more than enough to know that they were content, safe, and loved; that someone would hold a book for them or sing ‘Praise Him! Praise Him’ or wrap the baby doll in swaddling clothes or say ‘Thank you, God’ for our graham crackers and juice. Miss Hazel’s consistency grounded them in the love of God. Her faithfulness pointed the way to God’s faithfulness; her joy over their new shoes or new baby at home was like God’s dancing over them with love.”
After her retirement from teaching, Hazel became part of the Bereshith Sunday School class. Through the years church members and neighbors like Fred and Gerri Carey and Judy Bowman gave her rides to church and Bruce and Dorothy Neatherlin were especially attentive to her, giving her rides to the doctor and checking on her in her home.
“Miss Hazel,” who welcomed as us all as Jesus welcomed the children, rest in God’s peace.