Yvonne Hazelwood Rigney

Yvonne Hazelwood Rigney made a peaceful passage from this life to her eternal home on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the age of 91.  She had been a resident of Roman Eagle Nursing Home for the past seven years after experiencing declining health.  Born on July 5, 1932 in Danville, she was the only child of William Hester Vaden and Lottie Green Davis Vaden.  She made Danville her home her entire life and had many friends.  Yvonne realized her lifelong dream of becoming a hairdresser once her children were in school, and she spent the bulk of her career as the owner of her own salon as well as serving as instructor for several years at Danville Beauty Academy.  She thoroughly enjoyed her patrons, using her creativity to give her customers new styles and color for over 30 years.

After retiring, she and her husband, Thomas opened The Shirt Shack providing screen-print t-shirts locally.  She and Thomas enjoyed traveling together, something neither had been able to do before they married later in life.  During their 42-year marriage they enjoyed frequent fishing trips to Morehead pier for 20 years, taking several cruises, family beach vacations, and Atlanta Braves games.

Yvonne was strongly dedicated to her home church, North Main Baptist for over 30 years and then later Shermont Baptist Church.  She was active in Sunday School, singing in the choir, supporting annual Brunswick stew, and participating in the Seniors Royal Gems activities and trips.

She loved her family very much and enjoyed spending time with them.  When she and Thomas married, they embraced a fully blended family concept with all children and grandchildren treated as one family.  “Stepchild” and “step-grandchildren” were never words used by either of them in how they treated any of us.  They hosted many cookouts, birthday parties, wedding celebrations, and their home was the center of all holiday dinners.  Yvonne had a great sense of humor and enjoyed her life.  She was very creative and active in multiple crafts over the years from making earrings to learning cake decorating and taking up painting.  She was an outstanding cook and made the BEST homemade yeast rolls ever!

Yvonne is survived by her children: Debbie Hazelwood Tuggle (Wayne) of High Point, NC and son, Hank Hazelwood, Jr. (Vicky) of Callands, VA as well as Thomas’ two daughters: Robin Schultz (Craig) and Donna Ingram (David).  She also leaves her much loved grandchildren:  Brannan Smithwick, Micheal Hazelwood, Kim Hazelwood, Karen Ingram, Stephanie Hall, Chris Newton, Kaitlyn Ingram, and Kristen Shelton (Jim). 

Predeceased by both her parents, William Hester Vaden and Lottie Green Davis Vaden, her daughter, Connie Hazelwood, her first husband and father to her three children, Henry Wilton Hazelwood, and her husband of 42 years, Thomas Rigney, she has many loved ones to welcome her to her Heavenly home.

The family would like to thank the staff at Roman Eagle, especially Northeast wing for their compassion and caring.  Special appreciation is extended to Patricia Wright, Brenda Knight, Stacey, Val, Nancy, Sandy, and Suzanne who always treated our mom like she was family.

It was her wish to have a simple graveside service in Highland Burial Park, buried beside her daughter, Connie, which will be on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 2:00 pm.  The family will receive friends in the Chapel of Swicegood Funeral Home on Monday evening, April 22, 2024 between 6:00 – 7:30 pm. 

Swicegood Funeral Service is respectfully serving the family. 

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