Hazel Freeman

Hazel Billings Freeman, 97, of Winston-Salem, passed away peacefully on July 8, 2021 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home.  Hazel was born on September 19, 1923 in Lomax, NC to the late Romulus and Catherine Billings, and was one of ten loving siblings.  She cherished her time growing up in Lomax, later renamed Traphill, and working on the family dairy farm with her siblings. Upon high school graduation, Hazel moved to Maryland to help with WW II efforts. She later moved to Winston-Salem where she met the love of her life Harding “Bud” Freeman, and they had one daughter, Dianna.  Hazel owned Hawthorne Beauty Shop in Winston-Salem until her retirement in 1985 and often shared stories and memories about the friends she made.  In her free time, she enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening and being outside, watching birds, painting, cooking, reading, watching movies, completing crossword puzzles, and cross-stitching.  Hazel was a member of Clemmons Moravian Church, and attended regularly until unable to do so.  She was a beautiful, kind, gracious, generous, and sweet person who will be remembered forever as such a blessing to her family’s lives. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings, Pearl Billings Morrell, Rachel Billings Absher, Ruth Billings Billings, Jettie Billings Carey, Alma Billings Healy, Chester Billings, Lester Billings, Tyra Billings and Jim Billings.  Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 71 years, Harding “Bud” Freeman; daughter Dianna Freeman Overton and husband Lindsay; two grandchildren, Brad Overton and wife Chelsey, and Bethany Overton Brown and husband Derrick; five great grandchildren, Beckett, Berkley and Collins Overton, and Bennett and Brady Brown; as well as many nephews and nieces. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Trellis Supportive Care and the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home for their kindness and support.  The family would also like to express their gratitude to Home Instead Senior Care, who assisted us in making sure her days were full of companionship and care. A small private memorial was held in her honor, and she will be laid to rest at Westlawn Gardens of Memory in Clemmons, NC.