Lorena Hitt Gillespie Bury, age 94, passed away on March 9, 2015 at Lauderdale Christian Nursing Home, Killen, where she had resided for two years. Her funeral services will be held at Colbert Memorial Chapel, Thursday, March 12, with visitation beginning at Noon and the service following at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be at Caddo Cemetery near Trinity. Her great-nephew, Reverend David Lowery, will officiate at the services.
She was born in Lawrence County, living near Trinity and in Decatur for most of her life and at the age of 79, moved to Tuscumbia to live with her daughter.
Lorena was a retired, master seamstress and gifted in many ways. While her passion was sewing, she liked to garden, was an avid reader and loved to sing hymns. She was especially proud that she had been given singing lessons in her youth. She was very giving and loving to her family, friends and to everyone. She was loved by many and will be missed so much. She was Baptist.
She was preceded in death by her parents Roland and Allia Hitt, brothers Porter and Floyd Hitt, sisters Emma Hitt and Ola Rhoades. Two husbands, James R. Gillespie and Roy Bury, and two infant children preceded her in death as did a very special granddaughter Kelly McCrackin.
Survivors are her children, Barbara Richey of Athens and Susann Hamlin (Bryan) of Tuscumbia; Jane Atkins of Decatur and Thelma McCrackin (Lonnie) of Granville, Michigan. Other survivors include four grandchildren whom she reared: Norman Gillespie, Mac Gillespie, Lucy Mason, Shirley Leopard; additional grandchildren: John McCrackin, Tim Gillespie, Gar Gillespie, Dyke Gillespie, Mona Gillespie, Rita Gillespie, Hal Shannon, Scotty Gillespie, Marty Gillespie, Jay Thrasher, Jeff Thrasher, Lorrie Austin, Traci Gresham, Roxann Hinkle, Bradley Atkins, Dr. Steven Boyles, and 20 great grandchildren and six nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Steven Boyles, Jeff Thrasher, Jay Thrasher, Aaron Rhoades, Brad Atkins, Dennis Austin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the cemetery fund at Caddo Congregational Methodist Church, Trinity.
The family would like to thank the staff at Lauderdale Christian Nursing Home, Killen, for her excellent care and love. You may sign the guest register at colbertmemorial.com
