Hazel Bernice Gardner Stone

Hazel Bernice Gardner Stone went to be with the Lord Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

With a sparkle in her blue eyes she lived close to her Lord and strived her entire life to be the loving person who took care of everyone she met.  In return, Hazel was greatly loved and respected by all.  She delighted in her role as wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend.

Hazel was born in Lake City, Arkansas, on November 21, 1922, to George and Dollie Gardner.  She spoke many times of playing basketball and softball for the Lake City Catfish teams.  Jonesboro became her home when she married the love of her life, Darrell Stone, on November 29, 1938.  Their sixty-eight years of marriage was a true love story.  Darrell and Hazel were co-owners of Stone’s Used Cars and Stone’s Mobile Home Sales.  They were entrepreneurs for their time and were believed to have owned the first car wash and the first skating rink in Jonesboro.

Having joined Walnut Street Baptist Church in 1944, Hazel was a lifelong member who served in just about every role the church offered – Sunbeam Leader, Sunday School Teacher, WMU President, Vacation Bible School Director and always had a cake baked and ready for someone in need.  Hazel loved her community and always said Jonesboro was the best place anyone could live.  She and Darrell participated in many local parades and car shows with their 1902 Oldsmobile.  She loved being actively involved with several Jonesboro Public Schools parent organizations.  Since Darrell loved to travel and Hazel loved Darrell, they spent many happy years traveling in their motorcoach with the Good Sam Camping Club.  They visited many popular fishing spots in Florida, Texas and Arkansas but always favored Lake Norfork.

Surviving Hazel are her two daughters, Brenda (Mike) Mitchell and Reba (Roy) Sherman; four grandchildren, David (Hardin) Kimmel Jr., Jennifer (Kevin) Kestner, Slade (Mallery) Mitchell and Eric (Rachael) Mitchell; thirteen great-grandchildren, Coleman Kimmel, Garner Kimmel, Ella Kestner, Jack Kestner, Cole Kestner, Emma Kate Kestner, Susannah Mitchell, Anders Leigh Mitchell, Rhett Mitchell, Cole Mitchell, Riley Mitchell, London Bradham, Truman Mitchell and a host of family and friends.

In addition to her husband and parents, Hazel was preceded in death by her three brothers, Gene, Jack and Willis Gardner and one sister, Echo Alice Gardner.

The family wishes to thank the staffs at St. Bernards Village, Total Life Healthcare, 3 East at St. Bernards Hospital, St. Bernards Hospice and her caregiver and friend of many years, Evelyn Glisson.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests lasting memorials can be given to Walnut Street Baptist Church Forward Fund or a charity of choice.

A visitation will be held at Emerson Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24.

A Celebration of Life and Love will follow at 3:00 with Curtis Shatley and Grey Falanga officiating. Burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery with active pallbearers being Jim Ellis, Mike Sherman, Slade Mitchell, Eric Mitchell, David Kimmel Jr. Kevin Kestner, Henry Dean Finch and Murl Smith.