Robert “Bob” D. Hazel

Robert “Bob” Denzil Hazel, 87, of West Columbia, passed after a long battle with cancer on May 6, 2024.

Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather (Pee-Paw). He served in the Army National Guard while attending courses at the University of South Carolina. There, he met the love of his life, Margie, and they were married shortly thereafter. Their marriage was full of love and lasted until Margie passed in 2021.

At age 19, Bob started working at SCE&G as a draftsman. He went to night school at USC, earning his B.S. and M.B.A. He retired from SCANA Corporation as the Vice President of Public Affairs in 1993. Bob graduated with his Juris Doctor in 2003, and worked for Moore, Taylor, and Thomas until 2018, where he practiced education, probate, and business law. He was a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys;Lexington County, South Carolina and American Bar Associations.

Bob served on the National Federation of State Humanities Councils’ Board of Directors, as chairman of the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, as president of the Greater West Columbia-Cayce Chamber of Commerce, and as chairman of the West Columbia Planning Commission. After retiring from his law practice, he continued his pro bono work offering wills clinics to churches across the state.

He is survived by his children: Michael Hazel, Joey Rentiers (Rodney), and Meg Hazel (Jenn); two grandchildren: HeatherMartin (Jeremy) and Emily Mooneyham (Craig); four great-grandchildren; and his sister, Henrietta Collins. He was predeceased by his wife, Margie Hazel, and parents, Henry and Ronalda Hazel of Batesburg.

The family will receive visitors at 12:00pm on May 10, at Green Hill Baptist Church with a funeral service to follow at 2:00pm. Internment at Southland Memorial Gardens will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home (Greenwood, SC), Green Hill Baptist Church of West Columbia, or Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (927 S. Providence Rd., Wallingford, PA 19086).