Herbert Dempsey Corbett

Remembering
Herbert Dempsey Corbett
Devoted Husband of Hazel Marie Corbett
Oct. 21, 1926 to Nov. 4, 2020

Herbert was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, the son of Cyrus Jaygould Corbett Sr. and Christian Hollowell (Rogerson) Corbett. He had 5 brothers, Cyrus Jr., Alfred 'Joseph', Louis, James 'Jimmy' and Robert and 4 sisters, Evelyn, Mildred, Hilda and Norma Jean. He is survived by his youngest sister Norma Jean and youngest brother Robert.
Herbert was preceded in death by his devoted wife Hazel Marie (Bryant) Corbett March 17, 2013. He is survived by their 5 children, Sheryl Mimi, James Jay (wife Judy), Vicky Lou, Henry Edward (wife Elizabeth) and Ann Marie. Their decedents as of date, are 5 children, 16 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 1 great great-grandchild. Also, 1 grandchild and 1 great-grandchild expected.

Herbert Dempsey Corbett stories as told by sons Jay & Henry Corbett and sister Norma (Corbett) Tillett.
Herbert, grew up in the time of the 'Depression' and war, yet he was a resourceful, inventive and a talented young man. Time was spent playing football in the backyard with his brothers and fishing in the family's row boat. Also, he went catching soft-shell grabs and selling them at the local restaurant for 10 cents, with his best friend Joe Tillett (later, his sister Norma's husband). He even saved his monies to raise a flock of ducks. His love of farm animals continued till he realized his own farm/ranch in his 40's, where family and friends enjoyed spending time riding horses and barbecues.
He had a talent for music, playing the banjo, fiddle, mandolin and violin. About 15 years old, he, his brother Louis and best friend Joe, formed the Orange Grove String Band, wearing dark blue shirts with tied orange silk collar scarves. Herbert was on fiddle, Louis on mandolin and Joe on guitar. They played places locally, like the town hall where Gramma Christian Corbett would make lemonade and the boys would entertain for 10 cents at the door. The they went on, to play at dances in Norfolk, VA and on beaches, like Chantilly Beach, VA. At that time Herbert had a '37 Buick, Hudson, with a rumble seat. The back light was missing, so on the way to gigs, Louis would sit in the back, in that rumble seat holding a lantern. They also, played on the radio, sponsored by Pepsi Cola. They needed a radio to hear themselves, so Herbert built one. (A Corbett family recording exist from 1957, featuring Herbert, family and friends at home, singing and playing music.) There was a war going on and young men filled in for what older men would have done. Harvest time the boys would pick corn, peas etc. for a dollar a day. And, when Herbert went to high school, he was the one driving the school bus every day.
He also, became a mechanic at a young age. Therefore, he loved cars and loved racing them. His first car was that '37 Buick Hudson. He shared this love of racing with his sons Jay and Henry by building and racing quarter-midgets. Vicky jumped in and raced once in a while too. Nascar originated on the East Coast in 1948 in Daytona Fl. while he was on the east coast. The racing tradition continued through the years with himself, Jay and Henry, getting together through the years and going to the Nascar races from 1970 at the Riverside Speedway to the Fontana Auto Club Speedway in 2015.
He married his sweetheart Hazel Marie Bryant in 1947 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. Together they raised their family from the east coast of Virginia and to the west coast of California.

Remembering, Herbert and Hazel's Journey in the words our father Herbert Dempsey Corbett

"After high school Hazel went to Norfolk VA to work for Western Union. She learned the Morse code to wire money and messages home for the service men. She became qualified to take the place of her boss when he left during War time.
Meanwhile in Richmond VA I passed a physical for the army but my best friend at the time Louis Acid said it would be more prestigious to be in the Merchant Marines. So we went to boot training and I went into advance training for the engine room. Then I took a ship to San Francisco, then onto Manila. When the Japanese were fighting the United States, our ship took the Army supplies to an unnamed island. Port holes and doors were sealed so not let us know where we were at. On our way home we had just left the Philippine Islands when the United States dropped the atomic bomb. Each time I would go through a war zone I got a bonus and had a lot of money. So when I came to shore I trained on private airplanes and got my private pilot's license to fly people.
I remember it was just after my ship was blown up and sank from a mine near the shores of Leghorn, Italy that I meet a beautiful girl named Hazel Marie in Broadcreek Village in Norfolk, VA. We were both about 19 years old in the fall of 1946
My best friend Louis Acid introduced me to his girlfriend Fay Baum's best friend Hazel Bryant on a blind date. We went bowling, which Hazel didn't like, so she wanted to go home, so I took her home. Even though after that, we began to get together for walks and go to the park.
Miss Jennings who was in charge of the recreation hall didn't like me, because she had already picked out a college student for Hazel to marry. Hazel and her daughter were friends and roommates. But, Hazel moved out and moved to another couples house and they really like me.
After the war a man came back and took Hazel's Western Union job. She went back to North Carolina for some months. When she came back she began working for the telephone company.
I saw her on the bus. And knew she was back in town. She had been dating a guy who had flown her to Kitty Hawk in his plane.
Then I went to a dance in Broad Creek Village where Hazel went too. At the dance my best friend Louis told Hazel that I liked her and he told me that Hazel liked me. After that she didn't see that pilot anymore.
She went home again to North Carolina and when she came back we both realized we really liked each other a whole bunch. And she was so beautiful. The couple she was living with wanted us to get married too.
So we traveled back to my hometown Elizabeth city and got married in the Pasquotank County Court House by a Justice of the Peace.
We returned to Broad creek Village. But once we got married, I didn't ship out anymore. And I began working as a mechanic and Hazel began to work as a waitress.
We started having a family. First, born was Sheryl Mimi then James Jay, Vicky Lou, Henry Edward and Ann Marie. Five kids.
But after the war and the depression, it was hard to get a good paying job. And as a mechanic I only made $40 dollars a week. Before, I was a Merchant Marine and I made a $100 a week.
So, in 1957 we decided to go west to California were there was supposed to be more opportunity to make money.
We packed up the kids in a brand new '57 Ford station wagon and drove west for 3 days.
We continued to raise our family in the San Fernando Valley until they all left home. Then Hazel and I began to buy and sell property. And after making quite a bit of money we began to travel. To Alaska, to Mexico and saw the pyramids, to England, Ireland, Wales, New York and Hawaii.
Then we settled down in our retirement home in Quartz Hill, Palmdale, CA.
Hazel has been my beautiful best friend for more than 67 years."