Hazel Pierce Murphy Taylor, age 82, of Wallace, passed peacefully from this life to her eternal home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, March 18, 2012 from New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Hazel was born March 20, 1929 in Duplin County and was the daughter of the late Corbett Thomas and Rosa Thelma Wood Pierce. She was also predeceased by her husband, James Carl Murphy; sister, Thelma Brunson, and brothers, Robert C. Pierce and Johnny Pierce.

Surviving are her daughters, Harriett Rose Black and husband, Levi of Greenville, SC, Helen Palmer and husband, Wallace of Central, SC and Ann Jewel of Liberty, SC; sons, Carl Forrest Murphy and wife, Helen of Central, SC, Samuel Hawes Murphy and wife, Avery of Sunset Beach and Edgar Arnold Murphy and wife, Terri of Jacksonville, FL; 17 grandchildren; several great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; sister, Sally Snider of Camden, SC ; brother, Gene Pierce of Richlands and numerous friends.

"Ms. Hazel" as she was affectionately called, loved her Lord, her family and her friends dearly. She was a woman of uncommon character, beauty and grace and in the words of a close friend, "an instrument of God's love on this earth." Hazel was a friend to all and never met a stranger. She was a strong yet gentle and loving presence to all who were blessed to know her. With her great sense of humor, her joyful spirit and her love of life, Hazel was one of a kind...the kind everyone enjoyed being around. Hazel has finished her course and kept the faith; she is now with Jesus, her mother and others whom she loved. We can rest assured that as she entered those pearly gates, Heaven will never be the same again. Cherished memories will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved Hazel.

Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Wallace Chapel with President Norman Atkins, Elder Darrel Rivenbark and the Reverend Joseph Buckner officiating.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00pm on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, one hour prior to the funeral service at the funeral home

Burial will follow the funeral service in Sharon Baptist Church Cemetery, Chinquapin.

The family request that memorial gifts be sent to Lower Cape Fear Hospice Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.

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Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Wallace Chapel.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00pm on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, one hour prior to the funeral service at the funeral home.

Burial will follow the funeral service in Sharon Baptist Church Cemetery, Chinquapin.