Hilda C. Hardison

Published 6:53 pm Saturday, April 12, 2014

HILDA C. HARDISON

May 6, 1928 – April 12, 2014

Mrs. Hilda Rae Congleton Hardison, age 85, a resident of 3674 Cherry Road, Washington, died Saturday, April 12, 2014 at her home.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at Peace Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, West Fifth Street, Washington, conducted by Rev. David Thompson. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery in Washington.

Mrs. Hardison’s grandsons and nephews will serve as active pallbearers: Andrew Hardison, Will Gautier, Eddie Congleton, Bill Hill, Steve Congleton, and Bobby Woolard.     Honorary pallbearers will be Rick Congleton, Troy Congleton, Wayne Congleton, Larry Congleton, Benjamin Woolard, and Nathan Woolard.

Mrs. Hardison was born in Beaufort County on May 6, 1928.  She was the daughter of the late Marshall Congleton and Lela Bell Pinkham Congleton.  Mrs. Hardison was a quality control inspector at National Spinning.  In 1991, she retired with 33 years of service.  Mrs. Hardison babysat for several families in the Washington area and was very fond of those children she babysat.  Later, she became the manager of Country Living Guest Home where she worked for six years.

As a member of Peace Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, Mrs. Hardison was a past choir member, member of Christian Sisters Sunday School Class and a member of the Women Active for Christ (WAC) group. Mrs. Hardison enjoyed vacationing with her family at the beach, shopping and working in her yard.

On January 13, 1945, she married Willie Alfred Hardison, who preceded her in death in 1977.  On June 5, 1999, she married Jesse Simpkins, who preceded her in death, December 15, 2000.

Mrs. Hardison is survived by her children, Willie A. Hardison, Jr. and wife, Helen of Washington, Hilda Gail Gautier of Washington, Tim Hardison and wife, Angie of Blounts Creek; five grandchildren, Jennifer Gautier Mitchell and husband, Kevin, Will Gautier and wife, Jamie, Emily Gautier Pake and husband, Scott, Kellie Hardison and Andrew Hardison; eight great grandchildren; two brothers, Alton and Herbert Congleton both of Chocowinity and special sister in law, Joyce Congleton of Washington.

In addition to her parents and her husbands, Mrs. Hardison was preceded in death by a grandson (who would have served as a pallbearer), Michael Christopher Hardison; great grandson, Wesley Andrew Gautier; siblings, James M. “Junior” Congleton, Jr., Edna Mae Congelton Woolard, Eula Gray Congleton Woolard, Paul E. Congleton, Ella Ruth Congleton Hill and son in law, McDonald Gautier III.

The family would like to thank Mrs. Hardison’s caregivers, Becky Smith and Janice Woolard, for their support.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday, April 14, 2014 at Paul Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington and other times at her home.

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311 or the American Cancer Society, 930 Wellness Drive, Greenville, N.C.  27834.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com

Paul Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington is honored to serve the Hardison family.