Hazel M. Raymond “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Funeral Services will be held for Mrs. Hazel M. Raymond, 81, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Fletcher Funeral Home, New Iberia, with the Rev. Daniel Holmes, officiating. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, New Iberia. A native of St. Martinville, and resident of New Iberia, Mrs. Raymond passed on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 7 a.m. until the time of service at the Funeral Home. Hazel was a native of St. Martinville and resident of New Iberia. Her spiritual journey started with The First Church of God in Christ, she was often called upon as an inspirational speaker at various other churches. She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading and studying her Bible and spreading the word of our Savior, she would often put write ups in The Daily Iberian newspaper, explaining Bible scriptures. Throughout her lifetime she held various jobs that she enjoyed such as, Ombudsmen for Council of Aging; taxi business owner and driver, salesclerk and insurance agent. For many years she visited the hospitals and jails offering prayer and words of encouragement to all who were willing to listen. She was a lifelong sponsor of the Feed the Children program, and displayed pictures in her home of all the children she helped over the years. She was a very active member of the NAACP during the civil rights era, she was hired as the first black salesperson at Morgan & Linzy Department Store. She was very instrumental in the move to take away segregation in schools by volunteering one of her children (Sandra Raymond Savoy) to be the first black student to integrate the Junior High School in Iberia Parish in the 1960s, she was a longtime member of St. Matthews Benevolent Society. She leaves to cherish her memories, one son Daniel Holmes of St. Bernadine, Calf.; five daughters Sandra R. Savoy (Elmore), Carolyn R. Cormier, (Steve), Marilyn Lewis and Charlene R. Hamilton all of New Iberia and Wanda Ann Batiste of Lafayette; 21 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; four sisters Dorothy P. Guy, Mary Provost, Linda Provost all of New Iberia, Rose Provost; and three brothers Victor Provost Jr., Paul Provost and Warren Provost; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harrison Raymond; one son Carroll Raymond; parents, Victor and Eunice Bazile Provost; one grandson Cedric Batiste; and two brothers Albert Matthews and Edward Matthews. Active Pallbearers will be Brian Savoy, Elmore Savoy, Marilyn Lewis, Patrick Harris, Steve Cormier and Roger Raymond. Honorary Pallbearers will be Darryl Savoy, Shawn Savoy, Nathan Breaux, Paul Hamilton Jr., Marlon, Cormier, Keith Raymond, Steven Cormier Jr., Jason Youman, and Corey Lewis. The public is invited to view the obituary and send online condolences at www.fletcherfuneralhomes.org The Family has requested and is receiving professional service from Fletcher Funeral Home, New Iberia. |