Hazel (Mitchell) Lawson

Mrs. Hazel Mitchell Lawson, 86, of Tifton, passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at her residence.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, January 16, 2023 at Zion Hope Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Chip Grantham officiating, and with the family receiving friends after the service.

Mrs. Lawson was born June 20, 1936 on the family farm in Tift County to the late Orman Leonard Mitchell and Ruby Hazel Bass Mitchell. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two sons, Mitchell Verner Jones and Michael Hubert Jones. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Tifton. Mrs. Lawson grew up in the little Methodist church on Love Avenue. She was a very active member wherever she lived. Her greatest love was God and her Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Mrs. Lawson moved away from Tifton in 1956 and returned to her beloved home town in 2010. She was delighted to learn that many of her high school graduation class had never left. They get together every three months and have become very close. She loved all her extended family and loved all people. She was happiest when she was with people. She was always smiling and laughing. Mrs. Lawson enjoyed her extensive travels to many other countries, as well as every state in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. She retired from an important position with the U-2 Spy Plane program at Robins AFB, where she met her husband Bill and later performed classified work for Defense Contractors in the Silicon Valley, CA.

Mrs. Lawson is survived by her husband, Col. William “Bill” Earl Lawson; her son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Daniela Jones of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; eight grandchildren, Jessica Pittman, William Jones, Isabella Jones, Marcos Jones, Timothy Jones, Christopher Jones, Charlotte Jones and Chrystal Jones; eight great grandchildren, Dylan Jones, Lorelei Mulcahy, Aria Pittman, River Jones, Noah Jones, Olivia Jones, Kairi Jones and Emma Jones; two sisters Kanawha “Connie” Lightfoot of Ringgold, GA., and Melody Schofill, of Tiger, GA; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Leonard and Susan Mitchell of Dacula, GA., and Mark and Karon Mitchell of Albany, GA.

Flowers accepted or donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Tifton, 107 West 12th Street, Tifton, Ga. 31794.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.