Hazelene Burris Abernathy (91) was born June 5, 1932, in Cleveland County, to the late Samuel Burris Sr. and Ruth Davis Burris. After a brief illness, she departed this life into eternal rest with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday March 23, 2024, at Frye Regional Medical Center, in Hickory North Carolina. She was the third oldest.  Hazelene was a 1950 graduate of Davidson High School. She earned a B.A. Degree in Elementary Education from Livingstone College in 1954, which she attended on academic and basketball scholarships. She earned four different Master's. degrees in Elementary Education, Language Arts, Math Education and Library Science. She received her graduate degrees from Long Beach State University in California, Lenoir Rhyne College, and Appalachian State University. She taught at the Catawba County School system, where she retired from Startown Elementary School. She also taught in the Cleveland County School System. Hazelene dedicated 34 years of teaching to grades first through ninth.  After retirement, Hazelene moved back to Kings Mountain and dedicated her life to volunteer service. She was the former chair of Community Action Concerned Group, a member of the Hospitality Sunshine Helpers, Program Chair and District Program Coordinator of VFU Post #991 and the Chairperson of the Catawba and Cleveland County branches of Professional Concerned Election Group, she was an officer of the Davidson Alumni Group, and she also started the Traveler Club. Hazelene also mentored "at risk youth," she taught Creative Dance classes, served on the NEA-NCAE committee.

Most importantly, Hazelene served God and her church. She was a member of St. Paul AME Zion Church in Hickory, NC. She attended Bynum AME Zion Church as a child. Her church service led her to being a Sunday School Teacher, Adult Usher Board, Finance Secretary, Lay Council, and she held several other positions.

She was preceded in death by her husband Eugene J. Abernathy. One sister, Thelma B. Rowe along with four brothers, Robert E. Burris, Lawrence C. Burris Sr., Samuel Burris Jr., and Frank Burris preceded her in death.

She leaves to cherish loving memories, a nephew Brian (Renee) A. Rowe of Colfax, NC; a niece Sonji Y. Rowe of Hickory, NC; a great nephew Justin Rowe of Greensboro; two sisters-in-law, Ruby Burris of Gastonia, and Bertha Burris of Albemarle, NC; a number of nieces,
nephews, many other relatives and friends.

A homegoing celebration honoring the life of Ms. Hazelene B. Abernathy will be held Friday March 29, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. at Bynum Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Kings Mountain; interment will follow at Mountain Rest Cemetery.  The family will receive friends thirty minutes prior to the service.

The service will be livestreamed on the McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook page and YouTube Channel; the links are found below:

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/mccainfuneralhome/

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu4qb7IT7sO-Kc0BRs05J-A