Hazel Elliott Kendrick Trueblood

Hazel Elliott Kendrick Trueblood, 100, peacefully went to be with her Lord and Saviour on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at Margaret Z. Dozier Hospice House at Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee, Florida. Hazel was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee on October 21, 1915 to Jiles Benton Elliott and Martha Ann Lewallen Elliott. Her family moved to Pahokee, Florida where she graduated from Pahokee Senior High School and was a cheerleader and Valdictorian of her class. Following graduation she attended Palm Beach Business College. She married her beloved husband Wilson Harper Kendrick in 1937 and they were blessed with two daughters, Linda and Marilyn. After moving to Bradenton, Florida where Harper was the Manatee County Agricultural Agent for 30 years, Hazel continued her role as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, loyal Christian friend, and community volunteer. Affectionately called “Gege”, she will be remembered for her outgoing personality, generosity and kindness to others and her immeasurable love for God and her family. Hazel was a life long Methodist and a devoted member of Trinity Methodist Church in Bradenton, Florida where she served as secretary of the D’Ami Sunday School class for many years, a member of the Library Board of Manatee County, was the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors of the Bradenton Country Club, and a member of the Junior League of Manatee County. She initiated a scholarship at Trinity Methodist Church in memory of Harper (l913-1968) for an outstanding high school student and also gave the annual Harper Kendrick award to top agricultural exhibits in Manatee County. She loved to play the piano, dance, and play bridge while maintaining friendships with many. In 2010 she moved to Tallahassee, Florida to be near her daughter. Being the youngest of nine children, she was pre-deceased by two brothers, one of whom was B. Elliott, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives in 1951 and six sisters (twins who died at birth), her son-in-law, Dr. Robert A. Heckman, her second husband Joseph R. Trueblood, with whom she shared many happy years, and her devoted friend and caregiver Pastor Robert Hunter of Bradenton, Florida. She is survived by her daughters, Linda Kendrick Heckman of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Marilyn Kendrick Dean (Bob) of Tallahassee, Florida; four grandchildren, Harper Heckman (Kimberly) of Greensboro, North Carolina, Kendrick Anderson (Carson) of Davidson, North Carolina, Carlton Dean(April) of Tallahassee, Florida and Wilson Dean (Brittany) of Tallahassee, Florida and ten great-grandchildren, Katie Heckman of New York City, Lily Heckman of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Maggie Heckman of Greensboro North Carolina, Elliott Anderson, Connors Anderson and Wilson Anderson of Davidson, North Carolina and Baker Dean, Balee Dean, Dawson Dean and Harper Dean of Tallahassee. A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 11, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Trinity Methodist Church, Tallahassee with the Reverend Wayne Curry officiating. Burial will be on Wednesday, April 13 at 3:00 p.m. at Manasota Memorial Park in Bradenton, Florida, where she will be laid to rest beside her beloved Harper. Memorial donations may be made to Big Bend Hospice in appreciation of their support. The family would like to thank her devoted, loving and skilled Hospice Team, without whom she could not have made this journey. We will forever remember this incredible group of people and the Big Bend Hospice House where she spent her final days surrounded by compassionate care. Thank you for loving our family through our loss.

Tributes

Hazel Elliott Kendrick Trueblood

October 21, 1915 - April 6, 2016