Hazel Hamilton Anderson

Hazel Hamilton Anderson, 100

January 1, 1926-July 30, 2026

Hazel Hamilton Anderson passed away on July 30, 2026, at Hillcrest Convalescent Center in Durham.

Hazel was born in Pearson, Georgia, on January 1, 1926, to Andrew Jackson Hamilton and Callie Staggs Hamilton. The youngest of nine children, Hazel spent her early years in South Georgia, before moving to Columbus, Georgia, where she attended Columbus High School. She attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College for one year and obtained her B.S. in home economics from the University of Georgia in 1945.

While working as a home demonstration agent in Blairsville, Georgia, she met Hugh Anderson, from nearby Hayesville, North Carolina, and they married in 1947. In 1951, after Hugh completed his education, they moved to Asheboro, where they would live until Hugh’s death in 2007, and Hazel’s move to assisted living in Durham in 2024.

Hazel and Hugh built the first house on the eastern end of Parkview Street in 1953 and made fast friends with the other young families who built their houses there in the 1950s and 60s. They loved to entertain and hosted many parties in their basement rec room, and for several years they regularly brought in an instructor to help them and their friends perfect their dance moves.

Hazel was an avid tennis player for many years until vision loss forced her retirement at age 91. She played on the local USTA team and played in doubles tournaments all over the country with her partner and best friend, the late Martha Norman, winning a national title in their age group in the Senior Olympics in 1993. Hazel and Martha were mentors and role models for the younger Asheboro tennis players, and in 2017 the Asheboro City Council named a court in the Tennis Center in their honor.

Hazel was predeceased by her parents, all eight siblings and her husband Hugh Anderson. She is survived by sons, Craig Anderson (Dee) of Hillsborough, Roger Anderson of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Paul Anderson (Patsy) of Mission, Viejo, California, grandchildren, Megan Anderson and Matthew Anderson, great-granddaughters Reagan and Savannah and many nieces and nephews.

Hazel’s family will receive visitors on August 7, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro, and host a celebration of her life at First United Methodist Church of Asheboro on August 8, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.

The family wishes to thank the staff and residents at Brookdale Senior Solutions and Hillcrest for their kindness and care.