Obituary of Hazel L. Baynes

Hazel L. Baynes passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025, peacefully at her home. Born in Brooklyn, NY, on July 20, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Claude and Eva Brown Francis. She was employed for over 30 years with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, starting her employment off as a Toll Collector and finishing her career in Management Capacity with PA of NY and NJ.

Mrs. Baynes was a member of the Greater Faith and Joy Tabernacle Church, where she got a chance to enjoy teaching Sunday School to many of the children whom with she developed a special bond over the years. She would always try and have some treats or little gifts for whom she called her “Kids, whether big or small.” She was later bestowed the “Honor and the Privilege” of being called the “Mother of the Church” which meant a lot to her and she “Humbly” accepted. Mrs. Baynes enjoyed cooking, traveling, children and dressing fashionably, which earned her the N.Y. nickname “Diva” for fashion. She was a member and past worthy matron of the Eastern Star Chapter 630 O.E.S. Brooklyn, NY.

Left to cherish her memories are her son, Michael Jackson of Brooklyn, N.Y.; daughter, Kim Jones of Brooklyn, N.Y.; fur baby, Ziggy; special daughters, Kelly White of Brooklyn, N.Y., Andrea Saulsbury of Manhattan, N.Y., Glenda Lee, Val Carter of Bronx, N.Y., Fredosia Peebles of SC, Robin Brown of SC; special sons, Ronald Evans of Brooklyn, N.Y., Harry Carter of Manhattan, N.Y., Tim Raines of GA, Keith Hardy of Staten Island, N.Y., Michael Greene of Brooklyn, NY; grandchildren, Sorelle Cooper of Bowie, M.D.., Michelle Jackson of Brooklyn, N.Y., Revee Jones of Brooklyn, N.Y., Kyia Jones of Brooklyn, N.Y., Angelica Winston Jackson of Manhattan, N.Y.; and great-grandchildren, Darius Edmunds of Brooklyn, N.Y., Noah Winston of Manhattan N.Y. and Greyson Cooper of Bowie, M.D, Zora Wells of Brooklyn, NY, and Zende Wells of Brooklyn, NY

She was predeceased by husband, Herbert Baynes; life partner, Clifford “Curtis” Williams of Brooklyn, N.Y.; brothers, Alvin Francis of Brooklyn, N.Y., Arthur Francis of Brooklyn, N.Y., Claude Francis of Brooklyn, N.Y., Kenneth Francis of Brooklyn, N.Y.; sisters, Gwendolyn Cauldron, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Muriel Francis of Manhattan, N.Y., Sylvia “Zenzi” Saulsbury, Jenetha Irizarry of Brooklyn, NY.

The family extends a special thanks to caretakers YVonne Dickerson, Carla Robinson, Edna Johnson and to Ms. Saundra Joyner who through continued motivational conversations on a regular basis always managed to keep her spirits and state of mind uplifted. A thanks to all of the Amedysis staff, Dr. Penny Baker, Charlotte Staff and all other medical and rehab staff.

The live stream for the service can be found by clicking on the following link. https://www.youtube.com/live/33P86UnVUyE?si=SQn1l5LRr-VSMj-J