Obituary of Hazel Pringle

In the year 1931, on October 3​rd in Tampa, Florida… the thunder rolled, the rain descended… and then came forth the precious one, HAZEL DARBY​ and the sun began to shine.​ Hazel was one of nine children born to the late Calvin and Elizabeth Darby. She received her high school diploma from Tampa High School. Shortly after graduating Hazel and her mother eventually migrated to Philadelphia Pennsylvania where they both were faithful members of the Enon Baptist church under the leadership of Reverend J. Frazier and later Reverend W. E. Cook. While attending Enon Baptist church she was an usher and Sunday school teacher for forty years. Later she met and married the late Nathaniel Robert Rodgers. From this union came Kenneth W. Rodgers, Sharlene A. Rodgers Olisa and Andre T. Rodgers. She first began her career as an industrial worker and later worked at the Sarah Allen Nursing Home where she held three directorships; one as the Director of Environmental Services; the Director of Facilities and the Director of Recreational Activities. This is where her love and devotion for both the young and old began. Later she worked for Ryder Bus Company as a School Bus driver for over 23 years. Mother Pringle absolutely loved the children on her bus route. Daily she transported the children to and from school safety but not before she openly prayed with and for them to have a blessed day.  

Mother Pringle’s eighty-six-year journey took her around many turns. Hazel met her now beloved husband TaylorJames Pringle (TJ) at Enon Baptist church where they got married and became one. Shortly after, they relocated to Folsom, New Jersey in1968. For many years Hazel and TJ continued to fellowship at Enon Baptist church until GOD lead them to St. Matthews Baptist church where they later joined under the leadership of Pastor Raymond M. Gordon. While at St. Matthews, Mother Pringle was a deaconess; a member of the Outreach and Golden Ages Ministries and faithfully attended Bible Study (​C.O.R.E​.).

All that knew Mother Pringle knew that she was a child of GOD. She was a strong woman who was deeply grounded in GOD’s Word. Mother Pringle truly trusted in her spiritual beliefs – always willing to help somebody. She applied her spiritual principles in all areas of her life and raised her family to trust and to have faith in GOD and His greater wisdom. Her spiritual upbringing and lifelong commitment to GOD was exemplified in everything that she did – from raising her children to her careers. Mother Pringle was known for her unique and colorful hats that were always coordinated with her “just​ above the knee​” skirts and matching shoes. Mother Pringle was a beautiful person (​inside and out​). But more importantly Mother Pringle was well-known for her lengthy testimonies. She would always start out by saying, “If​ ain’t nobody else got nothing else to say about the goodness of the Lord, I can tell you how GOD has been good to me!”. Mother was known to be a pray partner, counselor, mentor, encourager and a teacher through the word of GOD. Mother Pringle was and amazing wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother and foster care mother of several children for many years. Her love for children not only allowed her to raise her children, but she also helped raised her grandchildren, and up until her health failed her, she was raising two of her great grandchildren. But her love carries on. She was a walking testimony as anyone could see the GOD in her.

Suddenly on Tuesday, October 2​nd 2018 our Lord and Savior called Hazel to her heavenly home. She leaves to carry her rich legacy and cherish her precious memories to her husband of 50 years - Taylor James Pringle; three children – Kenneth W. Rodgers (deceased), Sharlene A. Rodgers-Olisa (Wasiu Olisa) and Andre T. Rodgers (Carol Rodgers). Her sister Pinky Lee Cherry; Ten grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; one great-great grandson and a host of other relatives and many, many loving friends.