Hazel Arnwine

Hazel Burum Arnwine, 73, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee died at Fort Sanders Medical Center in Knoxville, TN due to health issues on February 10, 2026. She was born in Oliver Springs, TN in 1953 to Eugene Hall and Ruth Burum. She married Ulysses Arnwine in the early 1990s.

 She was born in Oliver Springs and reared in Knoxville during her adolescent years, the places that shaped her faith, strength, and character. She attended Austin East High School and graduated in 1971. She began her higher education at one of the Historically Black College and University, Knoxville College. 

She encountered a courageous battle with cancer yet continued working, fighting, and surviving. She will be remembered for her love, faith, resilience, and the deep impact she had on everyone who knew her. 


 One-of-a-kind-woman describes Hazel accurately. Hazel leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and an impressive collection of music and sports memorabilia that will forever remind us of her joyful spirit. Her love of these things was more than a quirky hobby; it was a symbol of how she embraced life. She taught us all that happiness doesn’t need to be complicated, and that a little humor can brighten the hardest days.

 Hazel was goal driven, a hard-worker, a sports enthusiast and enjoyed music. She was guided by her faith in God and her commitment to succeed through every chapter of her life. She had a gift for connecting with people and building her own path to reach her goals. She had a radiant smile, a unique personality, and strong character. With her vivacious personality and talent for sarcasm, she had a remarkable way of putting you at ease, in your place, or both, depending on what you needed at the time. She possessed a strong interest in history, research, and genealogy which was likely fueled at The Beck Cultural Exchange Center from work assignments given her under the supervision and tutelage of Beck Center’s Director Robert (Bob) Booker.

 Most of Hazel’s professional career included years of employment with government contractors at three main sites (K-25/ETTP, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Y-12 National Security Complex) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. 

She started her career as a secretary and her work ethic led her to become a Training Associate with the Health and Safety Department. Her determination later led her to become a certified trainer. She was blessed with jobs where she worked with a variety of individuals. These jobs were perfect because she loved people, especially keeping them “in line” with compliance. She worked long hours and steady until her health could no longer tolerate it. She spent three decades (30 years) honing her skills and providing compliance training to plant employees.

Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Richard Morrison; sister, Janet Burum; ex-husband, Ulysses Arnwine; aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Surviving family members left to mourn and celebrate the life of Hazel are her sister, Diane Ellis, Victorville, CA; uncle, Charles (Freda) Boyd, Oak Ridge, TN; devoted cousins, Marvin B. (Sandra) Burum, Powell, TN and Wilma Coleman, Knoxville, TN; God-daughter, Alicia Lattimore King, Powell, TN; and a host of nieces and nephews, great and great-grand nieces and nephews; loving cousins; devoted caregiver, Roxanne Hurd, Oak Ridge, TN.

The family extends special heartfelt gratitude to her half-a-century-long collegiate friends affectionately known as Hazel’s Crew: Maranda Brewer, Yvonne Horton, and Lois McSwine.

Though we will miss her deeply, we take comfort knowing she’s at peace. Her life was a gift to us all, and her memory will continue to make us smile. Hazel Burum Arnwine was indeed loved and will be greatly missed.

The family will receive friends Sunday, February 22, 2026 from 2 to 2:30 at Jarnigan & Son Mortuary, 2823 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue Knoxville, TN 37914, with funeral services to follow. Rev. Ernest Scruggs officiating. Interment at  Sunset Cemetery in Clinton, TN. Final arrangements entrusted to Jarnigan & Son Mortuary. www.jarniganandson.com.