Martha Louise Hutchens Hill

Martha Louise Hutchens was born June 5, 1922, to Hallie Rose Jessup Hutchens and Iredell Earl Hutchens in Mount Airy. Louise married Caleb Haynes Hill on May 29, 1943, while he was serving in the United States Navy. They raised three children just down the road from her birth home. She died Saturday, July 10, 2010, in Apex, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was educated in White Plains, near Mount Airy, and graduated high school there. She received both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees in Education from Appalachian State University. She taught in the Surry County and Mount Airy City School systems from 1942 - 1981 and was principal of Bannertown Elementary School from 1965 - 1975. She was actively involved in Delta Kappa Gamma, Alpha Theta chapter. She was one of the founders and director/teacher of the kindergarten program at First Baptist Church in Mount Airy in 1962. Louise was a lover of music and supporter of the arts. She was an avid quilter, creating many of her own patterns. She was a member of the Surry Arts Council, the Art Guild, and the Surry County Historical Society, and served on the Board of Reeves Community Center. The Hutchens family was of the Quaker faith and attended White Plains Friends Church. After her marriage, Louise joined her husband and the congregation of First Baptist Church in Mount Airy, where she sang in the choir, was active in Sunday school, and served on the Diaconate and many other committees. A respected leader in her church, she could always be counted on to visit those who where ill or unable to attend services. Louise was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease shortly after the death of her husband, Caleb. She lived at Ridgecrest Assisted Living for a year and half before moving to Heartfields Assisted Living in Cary to be closer to her daughter, Judy. She never lost her love for her family nor her memory of her beloved hymns and favorite Bible verses. Her last days were spent in Judy's home, where she died peacefully with both daughters by her side. Louise is predeceased by her parents; her husband of 54 years, Caleb; and her son, Earl. Surviving are her daughters, Judy (Steve) Davenport of Apex and Martha (Larry) Moore of Greenwood, SC; and her four grandchildren, Vance Stephen Davenport, III (Leslie) and Andrew Earl Davenport of Raleigh and Caleb Lawrence Moore and Grace Ellyn Moore of Greenwood, SC. Louise was also blessed with three beautiful great-grandchildren, Jackson Andrew and Ava Nicole Davenport of Raleigh and Noah Cayden Perillo of Greenwood, SC. The family wishes to thank and acknowledge Heartland Hospice, Heartfields Assisted Living and Memory Care of Cary, Doctors Making Housecalls, White Plains UMC Prayer Partners and the Stephen Ministry of White Plains UMC in Cary and in Mount Airy: Dr. Roger Kerley, Ridgecrest Assisted Living, First Baptist Church Family, and others who visited, called, wrote, or prayed. The funeral service will be held Monday, July 12, 2010, at 3:00 PM at First Baptist Church in Mount Airy, with Dr. Roger B. Gilbert and Dr. Lee Heathcoat officiating. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church, 714 North Main Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030; Alzheimers NC Inc., 1305 Navaho Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609; Heartland Hospice, 3200 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27604; or the hospice chapter of your choice. Moody Funeral Home is serving the family in Mount Airy and Brown-Wynne Funeral Home is serving the family in Cary.