Dec 01

Hazel Marie Gordon A Lifetime of Service for Her Lord

by GLADYS NEIGEL

Hazel Gordon

Ron Quick

Hazel Marie Gordon, former first lady of the Southern Union, and wife of former president Malcolm Gordon, passed to her rest on October 8, 2017, in Paramus, New Jersey. The Gordons served as an administrative team in the Carolina, Florida, and Southern Union conferences.

Hazel first felt a sense of belonging to the family of God, when at the age of five she happily gave a penny tithe on an allowance of 10 cents a week. This sense of belonging only increased when she was baptized at nearly 10 years old.

“The most exciting and thrilling memory from my childhood was Camp Meeting,” said Hazel. Another memory was her wish to be a minister’s wife. During a youth evangelism effort, she became engaged to Malcolm Gordon. They were married in 1954 in her home town of Allegan, Michigan.

After attending Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University) in Berrien Springs, Michigan, Malcolm and Hazel began a ministry of service spanning 47 years. Their pastoral ministry in Michigan and North Dakota led to departmental duties in North Dakota. Malcolm then accepted departmental positions, and Hazel office responsibilities in the Southern New England and Carolina conferences.

Malcolm’s presidency at Carolina, Florida, and the Southern Union conferences followed. As first lady, Hazel traveled with him and shared her joy wherever she went. She opened her heart to each of her readers through her columns in Florida Focus and the Southern Tidings. She also shared herself through music, and often sang a duet of “People Need the Lord” with her husband.

“I admired the beautiful way in which she and Malcolm modeled team ministry,” said Cheryl Retzer, who followed Hazel as first lady. “She also demonstrated a genuine love for ministerial spouses.”

Hazel had a burning desire for the women of the Church, and served as Florida Conference’s women’s ministries director. She encouraged the placement of women’s ministries directors in each church, and helped plan the first Florida Conference women’s retreat. She served as the Southern Union women’s commission advisor from 1990 to 2003.

“Our moves have taken us north, south, east, and west,” she wrote in 1985 in Florida Focus, “but the move I’m really excited about is the move up to the waiting arms of our dear Savior, up to our heavenly home Jesus has so lovingly prepared. Won’t you plan to move with me?”

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Malcolm; two daughters, Melodee Oster and Merrilee (George) Miller; three grandchildren; one brother, John Groves; and one sister, Betty Jean Amelang.

There will be a memorial service for Hazel Gordon at Kress Memorial Church, 746 Formosa Avenue, Winter Park, Florida 32789, on December 23, 2017, at 4 p.m.

A Tribute to My Friend, Hazel

By Jacquelyn C. Ross

I met Hazel when she became first lady of the Southern Union. Malcolm Gordon was voted in as president, and his gracious wife, Hazel, was voted in with him. What a precious woman of God: she was kind, generous, engaging, musical, an awesome hostess, fashioned, and loved hats. I knew then that she and I would be friends.

Hazel and I made music together. She and I traveled to Utrecht Amsterdam for the General Conference Session, and sang on the giant stage to thousands of attendees; it was a holy moment. You see, for us it was not just black and white singers singing, it was two friends bonded by God to witness love to His people!

Hazel and I, along with our pastor husbands, Malcolm and Dennis, and William and Gale Murphy, traveled to Canada as a witness. What a fantastic trip; we had so much fun! It would be difficult to find two more precious saints than Malcolm and Hazel Gordon.

God instructed me to form a ministers’ wives gathering at our home, and the purpose was to encourage, pray, fellowship, share testimonies, be transparent, and, at the conclusion of that heartfelt time, have a great brunch and give the ladies a gift of love. This took place the second Sunday of every month. Pastor Ross and I sponsored these events, and Hazel came faithfully! Attendees included Francine Long, Delores Davis, Raquel Morel, Modil Morris, and Hazel Gordon.

As we visited in their home, welcoming and kind, we stayed and stayed at their request. As Hazel became less active, we would take one of her favorites, lentil soup and homemade bread; although she ate like a bird, she would taste a little in our presence.

Hazel, kind, loving, engaging, talented both on piano and vocally (amazingly talented in both genres), woman of God, stylistically put together; yet, humble and teachable.

I will ever cherish our times together. She will always be my friend, Hazel!


Gladys Neigel is the Florida Conference contributing editor for Southern Tidings content.
Southern Union | December 2017