Hazel Chambers was born on October 6, 1953, in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Valenia Loyd Bruce Chambers and Willie Buster Chambers. She was the second daughter added to the family and, as a middle child, was often described as free spirited.
At the age of 12, her family moved to San Diego, California through the US Navy, where her father served for 21 years. San Diego became her lifelong home.
Hazel attended Montgomery Middle School and Abraham Lincoln High School, building lasting friendships and memories in the community she loved.
Hazel dedicated much of her professional life to working at several banks throughout San Diego, serving primarily as a bank teller. She took pride in her work and was known for her warm spirit, friendly smile, and genuine kindness to everyone she encountered. Unless you asked for her supervisor. In that case, she would jokingly say her name was Burgundy and her supervisor was unavailable.
Hazel was a devoted mother to her beloved daughter, Nicole, whom she lovingly called her baby. She was a proud and adoring grandmother to Dorian “Crackers”, Kim “Jaleesa”, Ebony “EBaby”, and Earl “Fourr.” Her joy grew even more with the arrival of her three great grandchildren, Je’Den “GG”, Jace “New New”, and Eris “G4”. Hazel had a special gift for giving nicknames, including to her niece Valenia, whom she called “Grunt Grunt,” a name that remains to this day.
Hazel had a remarkable green thumb and could make anything grow. She loved music, dancing, and spending time with family, especially during what she called Happy Saturday. She treasured taking her grandchildren on outings and especially enjoyed trips to the library with her GG, filling their time with love and laughter.
Hazel passed on February 9, 2026. She was loving, funny, witty, and truly one of a kind. Her clever comebacks and laughter will be deeply missed.
Hazel is survived by her daughter Nicole Dixon, her grandchildren; Kim Richards, Ebony
Cunningham, Earl Cunningham, and Dorian Davis, her great grandchildren; Je’Den
Williams, Jace Richards, and Eris Cunningham, and her sisters; Rennie Ann Price, Landie Jackson, and Adeline Sutton. She was preceded in death by her mother Valenia Chambers, her father Willie Chambers, and her brother Joseph Peeples.
Though she is no longer with us in body, her love remains steady and everlasting in our hearts.
