Hazel Lea Ireland Childs

Hazel Lea Ireland Childs, 90, of Lake Harding, AL died peacefully at her home on Saturday, October 28, 2023 while under hospice care with Columbus Hospice. She received excellent care from the staff at Lakewood Senior Living and constant care from her granddaughter, Jenny. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM (EST) on Friday, November 3, 2023 at Vance Brooks Funeral Home, 3738 Hwy 431N, Phenix City, AL. A private Service of Remembrance will be held at a later date.

Hazel was born October 4, 1933 in Turner County, GA daughter of the late Hubert G. Ireland and Eva Lea Benford Ireland. She was the co-owner and Associate Broker of Childs Realty with her late husband, Sandy Childs. She was a woman who knew what she wanted and was not afraid to pursue it. She was fiercely competitive and loved a good challenge. A hard worker all her life, she felt those around her should always do their best. With all of this said, she loved you like family if she was your friend.

Hazel and Sandy met on a blind date, were married within weeks and were married for 65 beautiful years. A true story of “love at first sight”. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert and Eva Lea Ireland; her husband of 65 years, S.J. “Sandy” Childs; three siblings, Helen Ireland Hancock, Roger Ireland, and Harold Ireland; a son, Jerry Childs; a son-in-law, Tim Murphy and two grandsons, Andy Childs and Angel Childs.

Survivors include two sisters, Bonnie Faye Ireland MaCaffrey, and Dorothy Ireland Coker; many,many nephews and nieces; her two children, daughter, Janet Lea Childs Murphy of Lake Harding and son, Jeffrey Alan Childs (Valeria) of Columbus, GA; eight grandchildren, Jennifer “Jenny” Lea Murphy Bryant (Jody), Timothy Joel “Joey” Murphy (Joan), Jeremy Childs, David Childs (Sherry), Ashley Childs (Ginger), Drake Childs (Taylor), Jenna Jones (Keith), and Jason Plott (Krystal); eighteen great grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; extended family, close friends. Tom and Kathy Zuber, Crystal Cook (who actually once saved her life), Laura Baxley Worthy and many other friends who all were loved like family.