Mr. James Kelly Hutchens

Mr. James Kelly Hutchens, 84 of Mt. Airy passed away Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Northern Hospital of Surry County. He was born in Surry County on January 30, 1927. He was one of seven children born to the late Lewis Ernest and Annie Pearl Collins Hutchens. Mr. Hutchens graduated from Dobson High School and then entered the U.S. Army and served during World War II. He attained the rank of Sergeant during his military service and was honorably discharged in 1946. Upon his return to civilian life he lived and worked on the family farm until he was employed by Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation in 1948 and began a career that spanned 45 years. In 1993 Mr. Hutchens retired from Surry Yadkin where he held the position of General Manager for 27 years. In 1952 Mr. Hutchens married Bessie Catherine Marion and they were a faithful and devoted couple for 43 years until 1995 when Bessie preceded him with her passing. In 2006 he married Willie Mae McMillian after many years of friendship and devoted service by Willie Mae as his Caregiver. Mr. Hutchens is survived by his wife, Willie Mae Wood McMillian Hutchens of the home; a daughter an son-in-law, Joyce and Sherman Hawks of Dublin; a son and daughter-in-law, James Freddie and Kathryn Hutchens of Lancaster, SC; grandchildren, John Dexter "J.D." McCormick and William Christopher "Billy" McCormick; great grandchildren, Savannah McCormick, Nathan McCormick both of Dobson, Isaac McCormick and Grace McCormick both of Elkin and Bradley Midkiff of Dobson; step children and spouses, Teresa and Rev. Ricky Martin and Hersie and Judy McMillian all of Mt. Airy; step grandchildren, Emily Martin, Christopher McMillian, Adam Martin, Catherine McMillian, Kelly Adams Snell and Will McMillian; step great-great grandchild, Hunter Martin; sisters, Faye Southern of Thomasville, Loraine Hudson of Dobson; brothers, Franklin D. Hutchens of Ralson, NE, Richard H. Hutchens of Mt. Airy and Ronnie Odell Hutchens of Winston Salem. In addition to his parents and first wife, Mr. Hutchens was preceded in death by a sister, Lillian H. Clapp. Mr. Hutchens was actively involved in serving his fellow man through his service to his church, Gideons International and the Masons. He was a member of Union Hill Monthly Meeting of Friends and he also served in various positions within the Surry Quarterly Meeting of Friends and the North Carolina Yearly Meeting of Friends. He was a member of the Gideon Camp in Dobson, and past Master of Round Peak Masonic Lodge #616 AF & AM. During his Masonic service, he served as a District Deputy Grand Master and District Grand Lecturer. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at Moody Funeral Home Chapel with services conducted by Rev. Ronald Thomas, Rev. Jake Penley and Rev. Buford Jessup with burial to follow in the Skyline Memory Gardens with full Masonic rites conducted by Round Peak Masonic Lodge # 616 AF & AM and full military rites conducted by the VFW Memorial Honor Guard Mt. Airy Post # 2019 and Pilot Mountain Post # 9436. The family will receive friends Monday night 6:00 until 9:00 pm at Moody Funeral Home in Mt. Airy. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Gideons International, PO Box 1032, Mt. Airy, NC 27030. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com