Sarah JoAnn (Busby) Hazel

Sarah JoAnn (Busby) Hazel, 87, of North Kingstown, RI passed away peacefully at home under the watchful care of her son Evan and daughter-in-law Bridget Hazel on March 24, 2025. She was married to the love of her life for 53 years , the late Thomas Henry Hazel, Jr., USMC, Deputy Chief North Kingstown Police, Ret.  Born in Mathiston, Mississippi, the second eldest of 11 siblings, whom she and sister Jewel helped raise - JoAnn was the daughter of a Loving, proud, hard working Cotton Sharecropper farmer, Isom William Busby, Sr., and Joyce Basil  (McClain) Busby.

JoAnn worked for the North Kingstown High School cafeteria as a food service worker from 1974 thru 2007. She enjoy serving students and working with her co-workers. 

JoAnn was a devoted wife, mother, grand mother, and great-grand mother. Family ment everything to her. She would often say “ I thank god for my life, for my children - my three wonderful boys - and for my grand children “.

She leaves her loving children: Mark Thomas Hazel, USAF, of Rochester, NY and James Evan Hazel, USMC, Inspector Newport RI Police, Ret., & his wife Bridget Hazel of North Kingstown. She was the mother of the late Dale Busby Hazel (Mark’s twin) who died in infancy and the late Terry Wayne Hazel, USAF, Deputy Chief, Middletown RI Police, Ret.  She was the mother-in-law of Teresa Hazel of North Kingstown. Cherished grand mother of Rachel Hazel, Elizabeth Hazel, Amanda Kochhar, Jonathan Hazel, Jamie Hazel, & great-grand mother of Landon Broadhurst, Aikum Kochhar and Jaikaar Kochhar. 

She was the sister of Isom William Busby, Jr., USMC, Webster County, MS Constable, Ret., Mary Evelyn (Busby) Dean, Bobby Lyn Busby, USMC, Ret., Jimmy Dale Busby, Investigator MS Commerce Bureau, Ret., and the late Jewel Delane (Busby) Britt, William (Billy) McClain Busby, Chief of Police, West Point, MS, Ret., Nina Pearl (Busby) Johnson, Charlcie Joyce (Busby) Sproles, Donald Wayne Busby, and Jeri Sue (Busby) Jones. 

The family wishes to extend their thanks and love for the wonderful care from Harmony Hospice.

Her funeral and burial in Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery will be private.

Calling hours are respectfully omitted.

In lieu of flowers, JoAnn would ask you to feed a child who is hungry. 

Gifts in her memory to the North Kingstown Food Pantry, 445 School St., 

North Kingstown, RI 02852 or to Harmony Hospice, 931 Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 3004,

Warwick, RI 02886 will be appreciated.

Arrangements have been entrusted to THE CRANSTON-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME of WICKFORD.

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