Hazel Allen was born on December 4, 1911 in Allenville, Berrier County, Georgia. She graduated from Bahira High School in 1928. She received her B.S. from Valdosta State College (now University) and her M.S. from Auburn University in 1954. She also received her Educational Specialist degree from the University of Georgia. She married Joe D. Lewis (1907-1968) on February 7, 1936. They moved to Columbus, Georgia in 1951.

She was a life-long teacher, beginning her career as a teacher in Ray City, Lakeland, Whigham and Muscogee County. She was a Language Arts consultant in Muscogee County, a Director of Instruction in Crisp County, a consultant for the Georgia Accrediting Commission, and served as a member of the Muscogee County Board of Education. She retired in 1975 and died in 2009 in Cordele, Georgia. Besides her work in classroom teaching and educational consulting, she was also active in teaching-related professional organizations, both before and after her retirement. She served as president of the Muscogee Educational Association, the Georgia Classroom Teachers, the Georgia Education Association, Phi Delta Kappa and Delta Kappa Gamma, and served as chairperson of the Teacher Education Council, the Georgia Education Coordinating Committee, and the Georgia Public Relations Committee.

Mrs. Lewis was the first recipient of the Award for Excellence to Public Education given by Kappa Delta Pi, University of Georgia; and was invited by the U.S. Office of Education to tour the schools of Cuba during the celebration of their 50th Anniversary of Public Schools. She was listed in Who's Who of American Women and in Personalities of the South, as well as selected as a Gracious Lady of Georgia. She received the 1990 Ernestine Aurelia Mack Service to Mankind Award and the Golden Apple Award for distinguished service to the Muscogee County School District, and in 1996 was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Georgia Association of the International Reading Association.