Mary Martha Hillenbrand

Martha Hillenbrand, 88, of 4 Avondale Circle, Johnson City, died Sunday, February 14, 2010 at the Christian Care Center. She was a native of Avery County, North Carolina, daughter of the late Forest Preston and Frances Markwood Piper Jennings. Martha was a homemaker who loved and enjoyed being with her family, especially grand and great grandchildren. In her youth she graduated from Steed College and had worked as a legal secretary. She had been very active in many clubs and organizations: The Garden Club, Literacy Program, Friends of the Library and the Watauga Genealogy Society. Martha was a member of St. Johns Episcopal Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John G. Hillenbrand; five brothers, Winston, Edwin, James, Fredrick and Forest P. (Jr.) Jennings; two sisters, Virginia Jennings and Frances Hyder. Survivors include: her son, Rick Hillenbrand and his wife, Billie of Henderson, Nevada; two daughters and a son-in-law, Susan Emmert of Elizabethton, Becky and Tom Ashley of Greeneville; a brother, William Jennings of Johnson City; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Barbara and Dorsey Reed of Johnson City, Margaret Holloway of Kingsport; five grandchildren, David Ashley, Sarah Waycaster, Lindsey and her husband, Charles Ellsworth, Ashley and her husband Trent Seilbel and Jacqueline Hillenbrandh; six great grandchildren, Daniel, Ethan, Colton, Calla and Isaac Waycaster, Audrey Seibel; several nieces and nephews. A funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. in the North Chapel of the Morris '? Baker Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until time of service at eight. Her granddaughter, Sarah Waycaster, will provide special music. A committal service will be conducted on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the Happy Valley Memorial Park. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the funeral home to leave in procession by 9:30 a.m. Active pallbearers will be: Bryon Bogart, Terry Whittimore, Charles Randolph, Tom and David Ashley, Ethan Waycaster. Honorary pallbearers will be: Frank Broderick, Dorsey Reed, Bill and Joe Jennings, Lynn and Todd Holloway, Jeff Hyder, Steve and Jim Hillenbrand, Hiram Rash.