Mrs. Hazel Hawkins Kerce, age 97, of Lyerly, GA passed away Sunday, May 8, 2011 at Redmond Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Kerce was born January 5, 1914 in Chattooga County, GA, the daughter of the late Julian and Carrie Brooks Hawkins. She was retired from Barwick Mills and she was a member of the Oak Hill Methodist Church. Mrs. Kerce was preceded in death by her husband, Edmond Lee Kerce, SR; a sister, Robertine McNair, and and brother, Sye Hawkins.

Survivors include a son, Eddie Kerce, Summerville, GA; daughter and son-in-law, Eleanor and Johnny Scoggins; Rome, GA; sister, Elsie Echols Johnson, Summerville, GA; grandchildren, Ray Casey, Christopher Kerce, Amber Campbell, Katie Kerce, and Sarah Elizabeth Kerce; great-grandchildren, Joseph Ellis and Ethan Campbell.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p. m. Wednesday, May 11,2011 at Oak Hill Methodist Church with Rev. Jack Gelespie and Rev. Josh Hollifield officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Dewayne Yarbrough, Ronnie Winters, Robert Beach, Joe Reed, Tony Jones, and Bob Hawkins.

Mrs. Kerce will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p. m. Tuesday. She will also lie in state at the church on Wednesday from 1:30 until the service hour.