Phyllis E. Hazard

Phyllis E. (Adamson) Hazard, 84, of Bethlehem, GA and Worcester, MA, passed away on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at the North East Medical Center in Winder, Georgia. 

Phyllis was born in Worcester on July 12, 1934 to the late Beatrice and Charles Adamson.  Beatrice later married Clarence Tolson, Sr., who was the only father Phyllis really knew.  Clarence helped to raise Phyllis and her three younger siblings - June Gray (who predeceased her), Clarence Tolson, Jr. (wife, Joan) of Worcester, and Joseph Tolson of Worcester.

Phyllis graduated from Commerce High School and, in 1953, married the “debonair” Willie Salmon.  Together, Phyllis and Willie had five lovely daughters - Brenda Evans (husband, Phil d. 2007) of Torrance, CA, Dr. Janelle Salmon-Person (husband, Ken) of Worcester and Lawrenceville, GA, Shirley Watkins of Bethlehem, GA, Janine Johnson (husband, Greco) of Lilburn, GA, and Sondra Salmon, who predeceased her mother in 1986.

Phyllis worked hard inside and outside of the home for many years to provide a beautiful home for her family and continued to provide even after her husband Willie passed away from cancer in 1975.  In 1976, she found work as an insurance agent and was so successful that she received recognition as “Agent of The Year.”

In 1977, she married Joseph “Joe” Hazard.  Together, they adopted three daughters – Latena Hazard, Latoya Hazard-Celino (husband, Steve), and Kristina Hazard - and raised additional children - Angela Fremming, Tetao Fremming, and Evelyn Rosenthal (husband, Michael).  During their eighteen years of marriage, she and Joe raised over sixty foster children, many of whom went on to pursue great opportunities.  Phyllis received several awards and recognitions for her work with foster children, including the mayor’s award of the Key to the City of Worcester on two separate occasions.

Never being one to settle, Phyllis decided to further her education and in 1985, she completed the Licensed Practical Nurse Program at Fanning Trade School and subsequently embarked on a career as a nurse.  She would put this knowledge into action when she and Joe later took in drug-addicted and seriously ill babies and nursed them back to health.

Phyllis chose to retire early from nursing because of her passion for raising and caring for her children and grandchildren.  She was the loving grandmother of fourteen, Kyleem, Nicole, Shaundai, Rishawn, Kyshawn, Shakar, Drason, Deven, Tasharah, Evan, Brenda, Jaylen, Eric Jr., and Kiara. She was the loving great-grandmother of five.

She has always been a faithful Christian and a loyal servant of the Lord, serving as the church treasurer for Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church for over forty years; most of those years she spent as a church trustee. Following her tenure, she continued to inspire others with her love, commitment, and dedication.

Phyllis, we honor you and thank you for giving so much to your family, friends, community, and church home for over eighty years.

Visitation and Homegoing services will be on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church, 55 Illinois Street, Worcester, MA 01610. Visitation begins at 9 A.M. and will lead into the Funeral Service, beginning at 10 A.M.  Interment will immediately follow at Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton.

Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, Worcester, has been entrusted by her family.