Hazel Audrey Pressley Hildreth

Obituary: Mrs. Hazel Hildreth went home to the Lord on Sunday, June 3, 2012. She will be laid to rest in Carolina Memorial Park alongside her husband of 64 years, the late Jesse Marion Hildreth, both born in Monroe. Born Hazel Audrey Pressley on March 22, 1926 , Mrs. Hildreth was one of eight children born to a farm family in Union County. She was a self-taught master of Southern cooking and was known equally for her home cooking and charity towards others. Mrs. Hildreth loved to host family and friends, and she truly believed that cooking for them was the greatest act of love. Known far and wide for her home cooking, her biscuits were almost as good as her hugs. She moved with her family to Kannapolis in 1952 to work as a spinner in Cannon Mills, where she remained employed until retirement. Never one to be idle, she thereafter resumed working for the Cabarrus County School system until 1985. A strong, loving and caring wife and working mother for whom family was everything, Mrs. Hildreth was a pioneer in her day, running a busy household while working full time. She became a full-time caregiver to her husband in his declining years. Mrs. Hildreth was a source of strength and counsel to all who knew her Mrs. Hildreth was married 64 years to the late Jesse Marion Hildreth, who was also the son of a Union County farm family. Together they raised three boys. She was a natural leader known for her faith, honesty, persistence, common sense and inner strength, and was fiercely protective of her loved ones on whose behalf she was always willing to take risks. Her life was marked by faith, hard work, loyalty to family and friends, and charity towards others. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 pm Thursday, June 7, 2012 at Central Baptist Church in Kannapolis officiated by Rev Curtis Parker and Pastor Gary Posey. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 pm Wednesday at Whitley's Funeral Home. Mrs. Hildreth is survived by two sisters Mrs. Margaret Rogers of Indian Trail and Mrs. Shirley Purser of Monroe, as well as a brother Clegg Pressley of Monroe. She has three children: Blair Kee of Midland, Morris Hildreth of Kannapolis and Dan Hildreth of The Hague, Netherlands, as well as seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The family expresses their gratitude to the many friends who offered support as well as to the doctors, nurses and staff at Hospice House of Cabarrus County for their support and care. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081. Online condolences may be sent to www.whitleysfuneralhome.com
Visitation: 6:30-8:30 P.M. Wednesday,June 6, 2012 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: 4:00 P.M.Thursday June 7, 2012 Central Baptist Church

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park Kannapolis, NC