Hazel Marie (Utley) Barber

HAZEL MARIE UTLEY BARBER, age 95, of Roxboro, NC passed away Saturday morning, September 16, 2023 at Person Memorial Hospital.

Mrs. Barber was born September 22, 1927 in Durham County, NC, daughter of the late Arthur William & Elizabeth “Lizzie” McDuffie Utley and was the wife of 33 years to the late William M. Barber.  Born and raised in West Durham, she later moved to Orange County and then with her daughter to Virginia and Baltimore, and then back to North Carolina where she was living happily at Mayo Lake in Roxboro.  She worked at Erwin Cotton Mills for more than 20 years, served others as a healthcare aid, and was proprietor of The Corner Grocery and several rental properties.  She was a member of First Love Community Church, formerly West Durham Pentecostal Holiness Church, where her father was a founding member and also donated the land on which the church was built.

Hazel enjoyed reading, computers, social media, and crocheting.  She wrote a book on her family history titled "As It Was."

Surviving are a daughter, Billie Barber York & partner, James Hanlin, five grandchildren, Barbara Horn, Tina Mitchell, Adam Mitchell, Larry Mitchell, Jr., Cheryl Holewinski, seven great- grandchildren, Amy Horn, Adam Horn, Joy Mitchell, Thomas Dean, Anna Abel, Michael Abel, Donald Abel, seven great-great grandchildren, nieces & nephews, Susan Utley, Deloris Harrell, Sherry Utley, James P. Utley, Kent Utley, Johnny Avery, and Barry Utley.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Barber is preceded in death by a son, Larry Wayne Mitchell, two great-grandsons, Scott Brant, Richard Henn, III, son-in-law, Joseph Harrison York, nieces, Linda Wright, Lanelda Bullock, Myra Harris, Deloris Avery, and nephew, Bobby Avery.  Hazel was the last of six siblings, passed are Paul Utley, Myrtle Spears, Ila Avery, Johnny Utley, and Elmo Utley. 

Funeral services will be conducted at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 20, 2023 in the Strickland and Jones Funeral Services Chapel with Pastor Greg Long officiating.  Interment will follow at a later date in the Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.  The family will receive friends and guests for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home starting at 3:00 p.m..

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5171 Glenwood Ave, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27612.

Arrangements are by Strickland and Jones Memorial Funeral Services, 1810 Durham Road, Roxboro, NC 27573. Online condolences may be made at stricklandandjonesfs.com.

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