Martha Anne Tillery DeMent passed away Saturday, July 4th at Hospice Family Care’s in-patient facility. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Martha was born May 15th, 1939 in Ardmore, TN. After graduating from Blanch High School in 1957, she attended North Alabama College of Commerce and began working for Southern Bell Telephone Company in Huntsville, AL as a telephone operator. Later that year she began work at Huntsville Utilities as a switchboard operator in the Electric Department and was soon promoted to secretary to the Manager of Sales Promotions. There, she met John DeMent, and they were married December 23, 1959 at Cash Point Baptist Church in Ardmore, TN. In 1961, Martha moved with John to Fort Hood, Texas while he served in the Army. There, she worked as a secretary and bookkeeper to a rancher and oil producer. Upon arriving back in Huntsville, Martha began her work with government contractors and survived many mergers in the space industry, including Brown Engineering, Teledyne Brown, RCA Service Company, RCA Aerospace and Defense, GE Aerospace, Martin Marietta, and finally Lockheed Martin, retiring with 35 years of service. At the time of her retirement, she was the Administrative Assistant and Facility Security Officer for the Director of Corporate Business Development.
Martha loved music and was a longtime supporter of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and Huntsville Community Chorus. In the 60s and 70s, Martha attended Westlawn Baptist Church, where she played the piano and sang in the choir. Additionally, she taught Wednesday night children’s classes and was involved in her adult classes as well. Later, Martha was a member at Southside Baptist Church where she was also involved in adult classes.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents, William Tillery and Daisy McCain Tillery, their infant son, William Tillery, Jr., and her devoted husband, John Monroe DeMent III. She is survived by her daughter, Tami DeMent Harbough and husband, Joey; grandchildren, Daniel (Caroline), Andrew, and Sarah Harbaugh; great-granddaughter, Lydia Harbaugh; and many cousins whom she loved and was close to.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 9th at Maple Hill Cemetery with W. O. McCain officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Family Care. (https://hhcaringforlife.org/)
