‘An old soul.’ University of Kentucky student’s mom remembers the son she lost

Tracey Hazelwood said Tuesday she didn’t yet know anything about her 18-year-old son’s death after he was found unresponsive at a University of Kentucky fraternity house.

But she knew he was a good boy who never left his family without saying ‘I love you.”

Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood, 18, of Henderson, the UK student found unresponsive at the FarmHouse Fraternity likely died of alcohol toxicity, according to Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn. Toxicology tests are pending and UK police are investigating.

Hazelwood was a first-year student majoring in agricultural economics.

“He was an old soul,” Tracey Hazelwood said. “Such a good boy. Loved his family and friends.” She said he never left his family without telling them he loved them.

Tracey Hazelwood said Lofton had three older sisters. “He was the baby and we all babied him,” she said.

She said Lofton fell in love with farming after farming during the summer of 2020.

She said he loved 70s and 80s music. He was, Tracey Hazelwood said, a “great, great kid.”

According to his obituary, this past summer he worked in landscaping.

Lofton liked playing golf, hunting, fishing, going to the lake and boating.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Roy Franklin Givens. He is survived by his parents, Kirk and Tracey Hazelwood; three sisters, Logan Hazelwood of Henderson, Sydney Hazelwood of Austin, Texas and Preston Hazelwood of Henderson; paternal grandparents, Larry and Suzie Hazelwood of Henderson; and maternal grandmother, Connie Thomas of Henderson.

A funeral mass will be at 12 p.m. Saturday at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Henderson. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday at the church.