Hazel Dorothy (Bivings) Bennett is the daughter of the late Otto Odell and Clarrissa Lucille (Rogers) Bivings. The daughter of former sharecroppers, Hazel was born June 20th, 1935 in the Moore township of Spartanburg County, South Carolina. She transitioned to her eternal home on Monday, January 4, 2021 after a lengthy illness. Hazel Bennett is now resting in Christ.

A graduate of Lincoln High school, class of 1953, in South Carolina, Hazel had dreamed of becoming a Science Teacher. With the help of a teacher, Hazel was awarded a full scholarship to attend a nursing program at the historical State of Maryland Hospital's Henryton School of Licensed Practical Nursing, located in Marriottsville Maryland. The school and Tuberculosis Sanatorium was opened in 1925 to train Black nurses and treat Black patients until it's closing in 1963. Hazel's training extended to historic Providence Hospital, the only hospital that served the Black population at that time. While attending Henryton, she met the love of her life. Story has it that Martin and his brother Francis, both of whom worked at Henryton, always stood outside as a bus of new students arrived. Unknown to future sister in laws, the brothers each selected their future brides that were riding on the same bus. Martin and Hazel were wed in Granite Maryland in the original St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church on New Year's Eve,1954. From this union four children were born: Wanda Maria, Martin Ignatius Jr., Marshall Garcia, and Mark Anthony Bennett. Hazel worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse in various hospitals and nursing homes throughout Central Maryland, including Sinai, Union Memorial, Good Samaritan, John Hopkins, and Providence. She was also an Administrator for various private practices. Hazel, lovingly known as "Moms", was proud to have worked at Providence hospital, which began as a 10-bed clinic in 1894 to provide training, treatment, and employment for Black people. Our mother LOVED caring for patients, working in Intensive Coronary Care

Units, the ER, and working with and teaching patients about Diabetes and Cancer. She was humbled and honored to have had an article she'd written about the Cancer research she'd done,included in a Medical Journal, which at that time, only included Doctors as authors of research. Hazel enjoyed working with the elderly at various nursing homes. She was known to work extra shifts at various hospitals and nursing homes to provide for her family. As a lifelong faithful member of St. Ambrose Catholic church in Baltimore, MD, and the Order of Eastern Stars Adah Grand Chapter, she actively served in many ministries until failing health. Hazel was a great friend to many in her adopted home of Baltimore MD. She raised her children with morals and spiritual instruction. She led by example, teaching her children how to become productive citizens. She welcomed many of her children's friends into her home as surrogate children.

As a wife and mother, Hazel was known for her great cooking. Her hospitality was stellar. She was a master of soul food, especially fried chicken, ribs, potato salad, and Pineapple upside down cake. Hazel loved growing fresh veggies in her garden. She enjoyed traveling, especially to her home of South Carolina. She is preceded in death by husband, Martin Ignatius Sr, 2 sons; Marshall Garcia and Mark Anthony Bennett, 3 brothers: Odell, Willie, and Willard Bivings, 1 sister; Mary Helen (Bivings) Teamer, and son-in-law Louis Alexander Young. Hazel is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Carrie (Bivings) Bland, and Mrs. Peggy (Bivings) Rhodes, 2 children, Wanda Maria (Bennett)Young (Louis, deceased) and Martin Ignatius Jr. (Demetra). She leaves to cherish her loving memories two sisters; Carrie (Bivings) Bland and Peggy C. (Bivings) Rhodes, of South Carolina: one daughter, Wanda (Louis) Young and one son, Martin Ignatius (Demetra) Bennett Jr., of Maryland: two granddaughters, Shanae and Rachel Bennett: four grandsons, Meric and Luke Bennett, and Louis II and Richard Young: 6 great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, Gladys Kemp and Vivienne Bennett, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren and friends. For anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Mrs. Hazel, the testament is always the same. Hazel was a welcoming person and never knew a stranger! So much so that nephews, nieces, grandchildren, and her adult children's friends would always seek her out. She is loved and she will be missed so very, very much.