Hazel Bedgood Metts

Mrs. Hazel Bedgood Metts, age 98, of Sandersville, died Thursday, October 17, 2013, in the Extended Care Facility of Washington County Regional Medical Center following a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 P.M., Sunday, October 20, in the May and Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Sandersville. The Rev. Jimmy Cason will officiate with burial in the Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mike Blatt, Andrew Blatt, Tommy Marshall, Dean McCaskill, Carl McDonald, and Strick Newsome.

Mrs. Metts was a native of Jefferson County, Georgia, but had lived in Washington County for 87 years. She was the daughter of the late Charles Bedgood and the late Cora Attaway Bedgood. On June 21, 1959, she married James Burke Metts who preceded her in death after 34 years of marriage.

Survivors include a niece and nephew-in-law, JoAnne and F. M. Marshall of Sandersville. She is also survived by other nieces and nephews and their spouses: Mike and Penny Marshall, Moultrie, Georgia; Candace and Mike Blatt, Kokomo, Indiana; Mary Jo Frost, Kokomo, Indiana; Andrew Blatt, West Lafayette, Indiana; Sam Blatt, Dallas, Texas; Lauren Carswell, Valdosta, Georgia; and Chandler Carswell, Albany, Georgia; and two step-children, Kathy Hurn, Orlando, Florida and Byron Metts, San Diego, California.

The family will receive friends at May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville beginning at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday until the hour of the service.

Mrs. Metts received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Georgia State College for Women in 1943. She continued her education and in 1954, earned a Master’s of Education Degree and in 1965, a Specialist Degree in Education from the University of Georgia. When she was in the third grade, she decided that she wanted to be a teacher because of the influence of her teacher, Miss Wells, and she followed through with that plan. She was a teacher with the Washington County Board of Education for over 50 years having begun her career at age 19 teaching first grade in Warthen after having completed only two years of college. After teaching in Warthen for two years, she taught in Davisboro where she had 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders all in one classroom. The next year, she moved up to 8th grade and taught Civics and science. She spent eleven years teaching in Davisboro, and some of those years were spent at the high school teaching a variety of subjects: French, World History, American Government, and, without ever taking the course herself, chemistry. She even coached Girls basketball while there.

In 1948 Mrs. Metts, (or Miss Bedgood, as she was then known) moved to Sandersville High School where she remained until the high school grades moved to another building, and, for the first time, she actually taught in her field- English, but she also had Journalism and American Government classes. During her eleven years at SHS, she was the advisor of several organizations- the Student Council; The Eldorado, the school yearbook; and The San Hill Scraps, the SHS newspaper. She was also cheerleading coach, and she directed the One-Act play for region competition.

In 1952, her journalism class was responsible for several “firsts” at SHS. Homecoming for all alumni was held, and it was from this activity that the Kaolin Festival developed (at the suggestion of Howard Sheppard). Many years later, Mrs. Metts was chosen to be the first female to serve as Grand Marshal of the Kaolin Festival Parade. A “Back-to-School Night” for parents began in which they visited classrooms and teachers. Also, the first “Career Day” was held; for two days, representatives from colleges and businesses around the state came and spoke about various careers to the juniors and seniors. She was chosen as the first Star Teacher at SHS, having been elected by Selwynn Hartley. She was also the first “Teacher of the Year” at SHS.

When Washington County High School opened in 1959, Mrs. Metts was right there, too, and she remained there where she taught English, sponsored various student-produced publications, and was the Chairman of the English Department until she retired in 1985. Her first year at Washington County High School was also extremely special because it was also her first year teaching as “Mrs. Metts” instead of “Miss Bedgood” having married Burke Metts that summer.

Mrs. Metts was extremely devoted to her church, and her faith was strong. She joined the Davisboro Methodist Church in 1931, when she was 16, and later moved her membership to the Sandersville United Methodist Church. While in Davisboro, she taught Sunday school classes, worked with the youth fellowship, sang in the choir, and directed many Christmas programs. At SUMC, she was one of the first three women to serve on the Administrative Board, and although she held various offices and performed numerous duties for the church, one of her favorite “jobs” was playing the piano. She never took any lessons; she “played by ear,” and she loved playing. She was also very active in the United Methodist Women.

Mrs. Metts was active in other organizations as well. She was a member of the Sandersville Music Club, the Retired Teachers’ Association, the Prime Timers singing group, the Silver Bells hand bell choir, and the 20th Century Club, the oldest literary club in Washington County. She was also an extremely active volunteer with Washington County Regional Medical Center.

May and Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville is in charge of the arrangements.
www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com