Hazel Barnes Burns, age 90, went to be in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, at Keestone Assisted Living, in Lawrenceburg, on June 7, 2020. Her granddaughter, Monica King Murphy, was by her side.

Hazel was born on August 18, 1929, to the late Clarence Edward Barnes and Elizabeth Pearl Fox Barnes, in the Carters Creek Community. In 1948, she married the love of her life, Bernard “Elmer” Burns, who had just returned from World War 2. They were blessed with three children, Margaret Elizabeth (Michael) King, Betty Jo (Phillip) Mansfield and Bernard E. (Carol) Burns Jr.

They were married for 46 years at Elmer’s passing on November 25, 1994. Later, she married Herman Adair of Hohenwald who passed away in May of 2009.

Hazel was known to be a hard worker and a great cook. She was six years old when her mother passed away. Times were really hard. She started working at Edric Shirt Factory as a teen to help provide for herself and her family. Later in life, she became a private sitter, eventually getting a license for her and Elmer to keep elderly in their home.

Hazel had many interests throughout life. She and Elmer loved fishing for catfish at Pickwick and Tom’s Creek on the Tennessee River. She also enjoyed bowling, cooking, gardening, pool and shuffle board. She was a great cook and made the best sour cream coconut cake ever. That cake became so popular that she got requests to buy them. She sold a lot, but still gave many away to friends and family. A lot of them ended up as a favorite at many benefit auctions.

She was a devout Christian and a Baptist. She was a faithful member of the Swan Creek Baptist Church for many years. She also attended Mt. Joy Cumberland Presbyterian Church with her daughter, Elizabeth and Michael, when she moved to assisted living in Mt. Pleasant.

In addition to her parents and two husbands, Hazel was preceded in death by her siblings, James (Thelma) Barnes of Columbia, Eugene (Minnie) Barnes of Columbia, Charles (Lollie) Barnes of Columbia, Margaret (Elton) Brady of Hilltown, Dorothy Potts of Hohenwald, and twins, Paul and Pauline that died at birth.

In addition to her children, Hazel is survived by her brother, Bobby (Sylvia) Barnes of Somerville, Alabama; brother-in-law, Vance Potts; grandchildren, Monica King (Mark) Murphy of Maysville, Missouri, Bradley James Johnson, Bethany Johnson, Brentley Johnson (Christine), Matthew Burns (Cassie), Benjamin Burns, Nathan (Amber) Burns, John Curtis Mansfield, all of Columbia; and many great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

The family will visit with friends from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2020 at Williams Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant. Service will follow at 10 a.m. Mark King will be officiating. She will be laid to rest at Polk Memorial Gardens following the service.