Carl Junior Hazzard

   Carl Junior (Poppy) Hazzard, long time resident of Semmes, AL, passed from this life gaining his heavenly reward March 6th, 2023.  He was 76 years old.  He was surrounded by his loving wife of 53 years, Joanna, and a multitude of family members. 

   Carl was born on April 23rd, 1946 in Canton, OH.  He was a proud member of the United States Navy where held the prestigious title of Seabee.  He served faithfully throughout the Vietnam war.  After honorably discharging from the Navy, he made his home in Coshocton, OH.  He met Joanna in 1968, when she was just 17, and married her soon after in 1969.  Carl earned a living as an over the road truck driver and a heavy equipment operator.  Carl and Joanna became the parents to two beautiful daughters: Paula and Jamee. 

   Carl was a devout Christian who loved Southern Gospel music, especially if it was being sung by Joanna.  He was also a longtime member of Crawford Baptist Church, where he attended regularly until his illness no longer allowed him to physically be in the services. 

   Carl and Joanna had servants’ hearts and believed their calling was to help people….and any stray animal.  Whether you had two legs or four, their home was open.  While still living in Ohio, Carl and Joanna found a love of the foster system and opened their home to numerous children in need over the years. 

   Carl was preceded in death by his grandfather, Harry Bible, Brother, Tom Hazzard, Mother and Father (Carl and Helen Bible Hazzard), mother and father-in-law (James and Paula Clark), and two grandsons, Michael Beasley and Seth Beasley.    

   Carl’s motto was, “The first time you visit you are a guest.  After that you are family, and you better show up for every Sunday dinner and every holiday.”   If we took the time to list every person he considered family, the list would be as endless as the waves of the ocean.  He welcomed everyone and loved them with a big heart. 

   Hun, Dad, Peepaw, Poppy, Jr., Sailor, The Silver Chin, and even Ralph – Carl had many titles which he was known by and many names he was given.  It is a testament to who he was to know that of all those honors given “Saved, Sanctified, Child of God”, would always be the title he considered to be his greatest.    

   He is survived by his devoted wife, Joanna, his daughters, Paula Clark and Jamee Booth (Jason Pugh), one brother, Richard (Brenda) Hazzard, one sister Eleanor Rose (Bruce) McKenzie, four grandsons: Jared Beasley, Joseph Beasley, Brannon Beasley, and Ayden Clark, one granddaughter, Anna (Nicholas) Schmidt and one great-grandson Nolan Schmidt. He is also survived by a multitude of nieces, nephews, and extended family, related by blood, marriage, or simply because he considered them “family” and he treated them just the same. 

   Visitation will be held on Friday, March 10, 2023, from 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM from Valhalla Funeral Home. The funeral service will begin at 12:00 PM. Interment will follow in Valhalla Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers:  Brannon Beasley, Jared Beasley, Joseph Beasley, Blake Nelson, Mark Nelson, and Brody Sims

Honorary Pallbearers:  Ayden Clark, Jason Pugh, Nicholas Schmidt