Hazel L. Childress
Hazel L. Childress, 95, of South Charleston, WV, passed away on April 4, 2025.
Hazel was born on January 28, 1930, to Guy P and Virginia “Cecil” Simpson Childress. She graduated high school at 17 and attended Morris Harvey College, graduating at age 21, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics. She began teaching math at South Charleston High School and retired after 45 years of service there. During that time, she obtained a Master’s of Education from West Virginia University. Upon retirement, Hazel continued to volunteer at South Charleston High School until 2019, impacting many lives.
She was a lifelong member of The First United Methodist Church of South Charleston. She was also a member of the Alpha Delta Sorority for over 70 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Charles, Carl, and Guy Childress; sisters, Hattie Kish, Doris Shank, and Betty O’Daniels.
Hazel is survived by her sister-in-law, Katie Childress; and over 40 nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, and extended family.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memories and online condolences of Hazel may be shared by visiting www.snodgrassfuenral.com and selecting the obituary. Arrangements are in care of Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston.
Miss Childress challenged me to the core in mathematics from the very beginning. She had much to do with my career choice: theoretical and experimental physics, which require a solid foundation in math from the get-go. I will always be grateful for having had her as a teacher in 1959-60 at South Charleston High.
Hazel was my neighbor for many years found how we were really cousins and a real good friend I visited her at St Albas and Harmony at Southridge we really miss her
Miss Childress told me in high school that I should not take a college degree that required advanced mathematics. I took this as a challenge and earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, a master’s degree in engineering and a PhD in engineering with a major in advanced mathematics and physics. I can say that her challenge was accepted and I have had a great career in industry and as a college professor. Thank you for the challenge!
The West Virginia and Kanawha County Associations of Retired School Employees extend their sincere sympathy to you, the family, in your sorrow. Blessings to all.
Don’t let the relatively small number of comments here cast any doubt that this woman changed the world. 45 years, 200 students a year = 9,000 worlds that spun differently due to her. I never understood trigonometry but I never wanted to quit trying to. If there was such a thing, she would be in the top 100 public high school teachers ever.