Lillian Irene Odell Hiatt

Mrs. Lillian Irene Odell Hiatt, of Mount Airy, widow of Russell Edwin Hiatt, passed away Sunday night, February 23, 2014, at RidgeCrest Retirement Center. Lillian and Russell were married for more than 65 years. Mrs. Hiatt was born August 4, 1916, in Surry County, the daughter of Joseph Arthur and Bennie Dodson Odell. She was "97½ years old and proud of every minute" of her long life. She was a 1933 graduate of Franklin High School and was a lifelong resident of the Franklin community. Mrs. Hiatt was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church since 1933, longer than any other living member. Mrs. Hiatt was a pillar of her church, serving as director of the WMU, VBS director, GA leader for many years, and taught Sunday School for more than 50 years. She even conducted devotionals at RidgeCrest until she was no longer able to do so. Mrs. Hiatt was a charter member of the Surry Quilters' Guild, making many blue ribbon-winning quilts and other handmade works of art for her family, as well as for charity. She will also be remembered for her culinary skills, especially her fried apple pies. Assisted by other WMU ladies, she made soup and cookies for the elderly and shut-ins of her church and community. She enjoyed raising a garden and kept her freezer and pantry full of food she had grown to share with her family and friends. In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Hiatt was preceded in death by a son, Larry Joseph Hiatt; and a brother, James Lewis Odell. Mrs. Hiatt is survived by three children, Phillip Russell Hiatt and his wife, Sherry Wall Hiatt, and Faye Hiatt Seal and her husband, Troy Seal, all of Mount Airy, and Joyce Hiatt Boyette and her husband, Dr. Douglas Boyette, of Shelby; seven grandchildren, Lynn Seal Jones, Dwight E. Seal, and Christopher Phillip Hiatt and his wife, Lori Hill Hiatt, all of Mount Airy, Eric Russell Hiatt of Greensboro, Claire Boyette McCullough and her husband, Dr. Devin McCullough, of Shelby, Meredith Boyette and her husband, Josh Hughes, of Lenoir, and Julia Boyette Monroe and her husband, Reilly Monroe, of Richmond, VA; and five great-grandchildren, Andrew Jones, Landon Hiatt, and Hannah Hiatt, all of Mount Airy, David Hughes of Lenoir, and her namesake, Lillian Mae McCullough of Shelby. She also has several loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, February 26, 2014, at 2:00 PM at Calvary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Alex L. Martin officiating. Interment will follow at Skyline Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, February 25, 2014, from 6:00 until 8:00 at Calvary Baptist Church, and other times at the home of Phillip and Sherry Hiatt, 230 Forest Knoll Drive, Mount Airy. The family would like to express their gratitude for the loving care Mrs. Hiatt received, especially from the staff at RidgeCrest, where she has resided for the past 3½ years. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 314 South Franklin Road, Mount Airy, NC 27030; Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030; or a charity of the donor's choice. Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the family.