Hazel Renau Lucas

Hazel Renau Lucas, 99, of James Island, South Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, in Charleston, SC.

The relatives and friends of Hazel Renau Lucas are invited to attend her memorial service on Friday, February 17, 2023, at 1:00 pm at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 347 Folly Road, James Island, SC 29412.

Hazel was born November 2, 1923, in Charleston, SC, the daughter of the late John Henry Renau and Georgie Keen Renau. She was educated in Charleston County schools and was a graduate of Murray Vocational High School.

Hazel was a life-long Charlestonian (and proud of it!) and grew up at 92 King Street, then the majority of her life lived on James Island (which she always called “God’s Country”).  Her work career in Charleston was centered around administrative work at the Charleston Custom House, Charleston Telephone Company, and News & Courier in her earlier years.  Then she devoted the remainder of her life to raising her four children and then her grandchildren.

Hazel loved living in Charleston and always said “on the 8^th day God created Charleston!” Loved going to Folly Beach, the Charleston Battery, the James Island County Park, and The Lowcountry Senior Center, and taking long drives around the scenic Charleston area. She was an avid walker and won many medals in her mid to later years in races around the Lowcountry and the Cooper River Bridge Run.  She loved to work out at the Lowcountry Senior Center weekly, biking around the neighborhood, and loved working in her yard.  Hazel was a life-long contributing writer to the Post & Courier newspaper in the “Ashley Cooper’s Letters to the Editor” section and was published numerous times.  She loved to cook for others and her famous “Chicken Spaghetti” recipe was chosen in a local cooking contest and she was honored to be interviewed on TV as the recipe winner. 

Hazel loved children, always welcomed them into her home ,and would call it “Granny’s Daycare”.  Not only did she and her husband, Joe, raise their own four children, but also helped to raise all of their grandkids in a loving and nurturing home. They were known for many fun times, trips to Folly Beach, crabbing at the County Park, and large family gatherings during every holiday and family celebration.  Hazel and Joe never met a stranger and welcomed everyone into their home.

Hazel and Joe were life-long members of the Elks Lodge 242 of Charleston, the Charleston Rifle Club, and the James Island American Legion Post 147. They both loved going dancing and meeting all of their friends on the weekends at the Elks and Rifle Clubs.

She was a devout Catholic who loved the Lord and was a life-long member of the Nativity Catholic Church on James Island.

Hazel and her beloved husband, Joe, raised and is survived by their four children … Joe Lucas (Wendy), Mary Ellen Lucas Bivens (Tommy), Teresa Lucas Pitts (Reid), and Linda Gaddy. They had 3 wonderful grandchildren: Cameron McLain, Jason Menard, and Haley Pitts Ex-Lubeskie.  They had 3 loving great-grandchildren: Daniela Ardaji, Ryder Menard, and Teegan Menard

In addition to her parents, Hazel was preceded in death by five brothers, Joseph, John, George, Harry, and Frank Renau. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Renau of Charleston, SC, and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Ashley Gardens Assisted Living & Memory Care for the love, support, and caregiving they provided to our mom this past year.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/sc ; or the Elks Lodge 242 of Charleston at https://www.elks.org/lodges/home.cfm?lodgenumber=242

Arrangements are made by McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation, 347 Folly Road, James Island, SC 29412. Visit our guest book at: https://www.mcalister-smith.com/obituaries