Hazel Christy Pilgrim

   On December 16, 2024, HAZEL FRANCIS CHRISTY PILGRIM went to her Heavenly home to meet her Savior and back to “Her Leon”. Hazel was born in Lithonia, Georgia on April 7, 1930. As a young girl, her family then moved to Gainesville, Georgia. There she grew up with and married the love of her life, Wayne “Leon” Pilgrim, Sr. (who was her brother’s best friend) on December 14, 1947. Together they started a family living a short time in Gainesville and spent a year in Knoxville, Tennessee finally settling their home in Orlando, Florida in 1968. Hazel was a powerhouse of selflessness and as Leon said, her middle name was “GO”. She was a Hairdresser by trade early in her life and continued that skill privately as she “fixed” elderly friends’ mother’ and elderly family members’ hair free of charge in their home for as long as her arthritic hands would let her. Nothing gave her more joy that to serve in that manner or any other way she could help. Hazel also became a realtor as they were becoming empty nesters but was most proud of being a homemaker raising their two children, “Wayne” Leon Pilgrim, Jr. and Jeannine Christy Pilgrim. She and Leon were active members of The First Baptist Church of Orlando where they participated in many ministries with the youth. Later in life as Leon’s health declined, they moved to Sanford to be closer to Jeannine and attended Grace United Methodist Church and then settled at Seminole Community Church where they met Pastor Jerry who will be officiating her private memorial service. She lost “Her Leon” in November of 2021. Hazel is survived by her children “Wayne” Leon Pilgrim, Jr (Lisa) and Jeannine Pilgrim Rape (Steve). She enjoyed the love of four grandchildren Heather Pilgrim Osburn (Chad), Mark Pilgrim (Janice), Brandon Rape (Lily) and Makayla Rape. In addition, she is survived by four great grandchildren, Ryleigh Hazel Pilgrim, Grady Nolan Pilgrim, Avery Gray Rape and Everett Coltrane Rape.

   Hazel will be laid to rest on December 22, 2024, at a private family and close friend ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery in Gotha, FL. In lieu of flowers, Hazel requested donations to Seminole Community Church 5070 Orange Blvd., Sanford, FL 32771 (https://www.seminole church.com) or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 (donors@stjude.org)