Obituary for Hazel Evelyn Johnson (Biggs)
Hazel E. Johnson, (Ga-Ga) ,91, of Toledo, Ohio passed away May 3, 2020 at Flower Hospital.
Hazel was born March 10, 1929 to Percy and Mary (Exum) Biggs in their Toledo East Side home. She was the youngest of five children.
After graduating from Waite High School in 1946, Hazel went to work as a nurse’s aide. It was then she decided to go to nursing school and become an LPN. Following a brief nursing career at Riverside Hospital, Hazel went to work for Rossford and Erie Ordinances where she remained until they closed. Hazel had to find another job. She became the third African American to be employed in the corporate offices of the former Libbey Owens Ford Co., retiring from the billing department in 1991 after 28 years.
Hazel enjoyed being a part of a loving family. She married Fred Pettaway Johnson in Sept. 1949; to this union their only child was born, Deborah C. Johnson. Hazel was a good mother and enjoyed being a wonderful Grandmother (Ga-Ga), great grandmother, great-great grandmother and an amazing sister, aunt, Godmother, friend and cook. Her candied sweet potatoes were unmatched.
She was preceded in death by both of her parents, siblings Charles Biggs, Thelma Biggs, Catherine Dye, and nephew Douglas Johnson. Hazel is survived by her beloved sister Louise Johnson of Homewood, Ill; daughter Deborah C.(Isom) Sims; Bonus Children Fred (Verna) Pettaway, Denise Bouie, Robert (Arlene) Pettaway, and Darrin Pettaway whose birth mother, Adelaide, lovingly shared; Godson Jeffrey Allen; grandchildren Marla Sims, Hope (Stevie) King, Yemisi Sims, Debbie (fiancée’ Malik Barber) Sims, and Isom (Tacoa) Sims, III ; Bonus grandson Dwight Steel; great grandchildren Iman Sims, Lauren Blackwell, Joshua Blackwell, Michaela Sims, Jayden Sims, Jacob Sims, Jacarri Braswell, Jaela Sims, Timothy Barber; great-great grandchildren Isabella Sims, Kiara Sims; sisters-in-law Geneva Moore and Ella Singer, brother-in-law John Henry (Ethel) Johnson; nieces Therese Johnson, Mildred (Deb) Hood, and Joyce (Reggie) Morris and a host of great nephews, great nieces, cousins, and other loving relatives and friends.
Hazel was born March 10, 1929 to Percy and Mary (Exum) Biggs in their Toledo East Side home. She was the youngest of five children.
After graduating from Waite High School in 1946, Hazel went to work as a nurse’s aide. It was then she decided to go to nursing school and become an LPN. Following a brief nursing career at Riverside Hospital, Hazel went to work for Rossford and Erie Ordinances where she remained until they closed. Hazel had to find another job. She became the third African American to be employed in the corporate offices of the former Libbey Owens Ford Co., retiring from the billing department in 1991 after 28 years.
Hazel enjoyed being a part of a loving family. She married Fred Pettaway Johnson in Sept. 1949; to this union their only child was born, Deborah C. Johnson. Hazel was a good mother and enjoyed being a wonderful Grandmother (Ga-Ga), great grandmother, great-great grandmother and an amazing sister, aunt, Godmother, friend and cook. Her candied sweet potatoes were unmatched.
She was preceded in death by both of her parents, siblings Charles Biggs, Thelma Biggs, Catherine Dye, and nephew Douglas Johnson. Hazel is survived by her beloved sister Louise Johnson of Homewood, Ill; daughter Deborah C.(Isom) Sims; Bonus Children Fred (Verna) Pettaway, Denise Bouie, Robert (Arlene) Pettaway, and Darrin Pettaway whose birth mother, Adelaide, lovingly shared; Godson Jeffrey Allen; grandchildren Marla Sims, Hope (Stevie) King, Yemisi Sims, Debbie (fiancée’ Malik Barber) Sims, and Isom (Tacoa) Sims, III ; Bonus grandson Dwight Steel; great grandchildren Iman Sims, Lauren Blackwell, Joshua Blackwell, Michaela Sims, Jayden Sims, Jacob Sims, Jacarri Braswell, Jaela Sims, Timothy Barber; great-great grandchildren Isabella Sims, Kiara Sims; sisters-in-law Geneva Moore and Ella Singer, brother-in-law John Henry (Ethel) Johnson; nieces Therese Johnson, Mildred (Deb) Hood, and Joyce (Reggie) Morris and a host of great nephews, great nieces, cousins, and other loving relatives and friends.