A Trailblazer. A Hero. A Legacy That Will Never Be Forgotten.

“I didn’t expect to live this long, but I’m so happy that we got all this straighten out.”
Mrs. Hazel Jones Womble
World War II Navy Veteran (1920-2026)

There are moments in our work that remind us exactly why Women Veterans Ignited exists. Meeting Mrs. Hazel Jones Womble was one of those moments.

Mrs. Womble was a proud World War II Navy veteran whose life reflected quiet strength, humility, and unwavering service. She served on active duty until August 1946 before continuing in the U.S. Navy Reserve through March 1953. During her military career, she earned the World War II Victory Ribbon and the American Theater Ribbon.

Like countless women veterans of her era, however, Mrs. Womble returned home to a country that often failed to recognize women’s military service. She was never enrolled with the Department of Veterans Affairs and spent nearly eight decades without access to the benefits she had earned.

In 2024, Women Veterans Ignited joined an extraordinary team committed to changing that.

Working alongside the Office of Congressman Aaron Bean, the City of Jacksonville Military Affairs & Veterans Services, and Veterans Service Officer Alnita Whitt, nine months of research led to a life-changing milestone.

On April 8, 2025, at 105 years old, Mrs. Womble walked into a VA clinic for the very first time as an officially enrolled veteran.

It was a moment none of us will ever forget.

With genuine gratitude, she smiled and said,

“I didn’t expect to live this long, but I’m so happy that we got all this straighten out.”

Those simple words carried the weight of nearly 80 years.

Mrs. Womble’s story is not just about one veteran. It is a reminder of why Women Veterans Ignited continues to advocate every day for women whose service has too often gone unseen. Her journey represents thousands of women who answered our nation’s call, yet never received the recognition they deserved.

On Saturday, August 1, 2026, Mrs. Hazel Jones Womble peacefully passed away at 106 years old.

While our hearts are heavy, they are also full of gratitude. We are thankful that Mrs. Womble lived long enough to experience the honor she had earned decades before. We are thankful that she knew an entire community stood beside her. Most of all, we are thankful that we had the privilege of knowing her.

Mrs. Womble was more than a World War II veteran. She was a living piece of history, a trailblazer, and a powerful reminder that it is never too late to do what is right.

As we celebrate her extraordinary life, we recommit ourselves to ensuring that every woman veteran is seen, valued, and honored.

Fair winds and following seas, Mrs. Hazel Jones Womble.

Your watch has ended, but your legacy will continue to light the way for generations of women veterans to come.