HAZEL BROWN McCURDY

PERRY- Hazel Brown McCurdy, 85, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 23, 2025. Services will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025, in the Chapel at Watson-Hunt Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., and the funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Larry Wood officiating. Interment will be in Perry Memorial Gardens where she will be laid to rest with her beloved husband. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to the Georgia Beekeepers Association, 1701 Houston Lake Road, Perry, GA 31069, or online at www.gabeekeeping.com. Hazel was born in Barnesville to the late Charlie and Ruth Chambliss Brown. Soon after graduation from high school in Americus, she married the love of her life, Jesse. She was a homemaker for over twenty years, creating a loving and encouraging environment in which to raise their children. When the youngest one started school, so did Hazel. After receiving the proper training and education, she began her career in the medical field as an LPN at age forty. She eventually attended Macon College where she graduated and earned a degree in Nursing at age fifty-two. She was a Registered Nurse for over twenty years and retired from Perry Hospital. While her husband was tending to bees, Hazel walked alongside him continuously supporting his passion, which became their passion. She was a wonderful example for wives and mothers everywhere. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Perry. Along with Jesse, Hazel was instrumental in the organization of the Heart of Georgia Beekeepers Association. The McCurdys were exhibitors at the Georgia National Fair for thirty-two years, sharing their love for bees with everyone who came through their building. But Hazel’s pride and joy was being “The Bee Man’s” Wife. It gave her great joy daily to be with him and support him. While they will certainly be missed here on this earth, we rest assured knowing it was a “bee”-autiful day in Heaven when Hazel joined Jesse on May 23. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Charles Brown, Jr.; and three sons, Mike McCurdy, Charles “Chip” McCurdy, and Kyle McCurdy. Left to cherish the memories they made with Hazel are her son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Dawn McCurdy of Fort Valley; her daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Rick Bills of West Point; her grandchildren, Jesse Love, Austin Love (Autumn), Heather Minix (Austin), Katelyn Holliday (Cody), Rebecca McCurdy, James Baker (Kimberly), Richard Bills Jr., Cason Whitlock, Ashley Owen (Daniel), Mallory Daugherty (Ian), and Joey Smith; and many great-grandchildren. Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

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HAZEL BROWN McCURDY

September 26, 1939 - May 23, 2025