Hazel "Mer" Rollins Oliver

Hazel Oliver of Ashland City died at her home on Thursday, July 22, 2010, having lived life to the fullest for 93 years. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 31, at 1 o’clock pm in the chapel of Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Pleasant View with Rev. Jerry Smith and Dr. Charles Thigpen officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park with Scott Oliver, Greg Oliver, Seth Williams, David Oliver, John Williams, Brian Smith, John Wierwille, Josh Pace, Chris Oliver, and Chad Oliver serving as pallbearers. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Ronald McGhee, Henry Fricke, Obie Miller, Ernie Miller, Jim Oliver, Jack Oliver, Ron Loftis, Ray Burch, and Jim Atwood. The family will receive friends on Friday from 5-8:00pm and again on Saturday from Noon until the hour of service. She was born on June 9, 1917, in Vanleer, Tennessee, the younger daughter of the late Reverend Willie Rollins and Lucy Dickson Rollins. Even in childhood, Hazel knew she was going to be a teacher. She loved going to school and, after graduating from Peabody College at the age of twenty, she loved being a secondary school teacher in the Nashville Public School System. She left teaching for a few years to rear her three children with her husband John, then returned to teaching in elementary schools, eventually working her way down through the grades and finding her true calling where the “real action” is, Head Start kindergarten. Hazel was known for her easy laughter, kind heart, and unselfish devotion to her immediate and extended family. She was “Mer” not only to her grandchildren and great grandchildren but to friends of all ages in her church and community. She embraced life with zest, dignity and contentment in whatever life brought her. She was, throughout her life, a remarkable example of the wife and mother described in Proverbs 31: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her works praise her in the gates.” In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, John and one sister, Zelda R. Anderson. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Nancy Oliver, Atlanta, GA; son and daughter-in law, Ted and Betty Oliver, Huntsville, AL; and daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Terry Williams, Ashland City; grandchildren and grandchildren-in-law; Scott Oliver, Decatur, AL; Donna Oliver, Decatur, AL; Greg and Stacey Oliver, Birmingham, AL; Emily and Brian Smith, Pensacola, FL; Kathryn and John Wierwille, Atlanta, GA; Seth Williams, Ashland City, TN; David Oliver, Atlanta, GA; John Williams, Dallas, TX; Beth and Josh Pace, Louisville, KY ; and great-grandchildren; Chris, Chad and Clay Oliver; Katie, Matthew and Claire Oliver; Hannah Grace and Caleb Smith; Sara Kathryn Wierwille; Riley, Ella and Olivia Pace; nieces, Carlene Fricke, Jeannie Burch, Linda Walker, Ann Loftis, Becky Atwood, Barbara Elderkin, Nancy Bellamy; nephews, Ronald McGhee, Jim Oliver, Jack Oliver, Obie Miller and Ernie Miller and many great nieces and nephews. Memorial Contributions may be made to Christ Fellowship Church Missions Fund in care of Austin & Bell Funeral Home. Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Pleasant View is in charge of these arrangements. www.austinandbell.com

Hazel "Mer" Rollins Oliver

June 9, 1917 - July 22, 2010