Obituary of Jean Hazel Kincaid

Jean Hazel Kincaid, 90, of Ocala, FL passed away Saturday, March 9th at Cates Hospice House in Ocala after struggling with declining health over the past few years. Jean leaves a legacy of a remarkable life lived to the fullest and an indomitable spirit unmatched in these times.

Norma Jean Hazel was born in Newberry, S.C. to Leola & James Hazel on November 9th, 1933. She grew up in Newberry and Columbia S.C. before eventually graduating from Andrew Jackson High School in 1951 and then attended classes at The University of South Carolina while working at the State Hospital in Columbia.

Jean married Edwin A. Davis on June 4th, 1955, and together they had 5 children. She relocated to Ocala, FL in 1963 and began working at Munroe Memorial Hospital. She moved her family to Cayce, S.C. in 1977 and continued working in the medical profession, before moving to St. Augustine, Fl where she retired from a long career with The Division of Blind Services.  She was a lifelong advocate for the Blind Services and a long-time member of the Lions Club in St. Augustine, Fl.  Jean was extremely active in Civic Affairs in any locale she found herself in.  In Ocala she was a member of the Women’s Club as well as The Daughters of the American Revolution, where she served as Director of Indian Affairs.  Jean was also a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Jean was active in Temple Beth Shalom of Ocala, serving with honor in the Sisterhood of the Temple.  Jean held tightly to her faith and found comfort and strength from her faith and traveled to Israel numerous times.

After retiring she found time to write short stories and poems and succeeded in completing her first book entitled “Reflections in an old Mirror” which she delighted in giving copies of to her family & friends.  In 2005 she married the love of her life, Earl Kincaid, of Pahrump, NV and they settled in Ocala, Fl and enjoyed many happy years before he passed away in 2012.  Afterward she lived an active life enjoying lunches with her friends and mostly enjoying her ice cream.

Jean particularly enjoyed Genealogy and succeeded in tracing her family linage back to colonial times and beyond. After experiencing declining health in recent years, she was cared for by her family who she cherished very much. Her only daughters’ death this past May took a toll on her, and she began to enter the sunset of her life.

Jean is survived by 4 sons, Graham (Nancy) Davis, Vancouver, WA, Gregory Davis, Carrollton, GA, John Davis, Ocala, Fl & Russell Davis, Jacksonville, Fl. as well as her children’s half-brother Matthew (Shanon) Davis, Apex, N.C.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Cynthia (Tim) Neel, Bartlesville, Ok. as well as her twin sister Joan Hazel Jones, Ocala, Fl, her older sister, Sara (Charles) Holley, Cayce, S.C. and brother Richard (Shirley) Hazel, Rehobeth AL.  She also leaves cherished memories to 8 grandchildren, Alan Davis, Portland, OR., Daniel (Amelia) Davis, Lacey, WA, Megan (Jeremy) Holton, Wilmington, NC, Patrick Davis, Wendell, N.C., Jill (Seth) Weimer, Bartlesville OK, Beth (Chris) Farmer, Bartlesville, OK, Jared (Lauren) Sparkman, Indianapolis, IN, Melissa (Josh) Harms, Indianapolis, IN, Cameron (Spencer) Hall, Apex, N.C. & Ashton H. Davis, currently serving in Layton, Utah as well as 20 great grandchildren. She also leaves a beloved best friend, Rochelle Gerofsky, of Ocala, Fl. 

There will be a graveside interment service on Friday, March 15, 2024 at 11A.M. at Temple Beth Shalom Cemetery in Ocala located at 14th & Magnolia which will be followed by a gathering of loved ones at Jean’s home in Ocala.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Florida Division of Blind Services of Jacksonville.