Lillian Rebecca Hurtt

Lillian Rebecca (Hollis) Hurtt, 96, of Henrietta, Tennessee, passed away in the care of her loving son and his family in Murfreesboro in the early morning of September 11, 2024.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home with Rev. Craig Cross officiating. Burial will follow at Nanney-Hollis Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12 p.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home.

The daughter of humble farmers – David Hollis and Maggie James Hollis – she was raised in rural Henrietta, Tennessee, during the Great Depression. Lillian, who always went by Rebecca, had a younger and older sister – Maggie Lee and Gladys – a brother – Raymond – and a half-brother – Gilmer.

In 1949, she fell in love and married Private First-Class Albert Francis Hurtt. On August 16, 1950, she gave birth to her only son, David Lewis. Tragically, PFC Albert F. Hurtt was Killed in Action (KIA) on November 28th, 1950, in the Chosin Reservoir. The Department of the Army initially listed PFC Hurtt as Missing in Action (MIA), and Rebecca never remarried.

With the help of her family and the congregation at Walton’s Chapel– her lifelong church – she raised her son David on the same plot of land on North Hinton Road on which she grew up.

Rebecca was a doting and dedicated mother, drawn even closer to her son after the death of her husband. Her motherly instincts were felt by the families of her younger and older sisters, all of whom called her by her nickname, Aunt Becker.

In addition to her lifelong commitment to her son, David, “Aunt Becker” fully embraced the responsibilities (and rewards) of being called grandma by her two grandchildren, Matthew Hurtt and Kristi Nicole “Nikki” (Hurtt) Wilson, whom she showered with love any chance she got.

She loved Pat Head Summitt’s Lady Vols and Jeff Fisher’s Tennessee Titans. She could be seen cheering them on from her living room recliner anytime they were on the court or the field.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her younger brother Raymond, her half-brother Gilmer, her older sister Gladys and husband Barney Batey, her brother-in-law Willard Oliver, and her daughter-in-law Terrie (Escoe) Hurtt.

She is survived by her son David Hurtt, her grandson and granddaughter, Matthew and Kristi Nicole (Hurtt) Wilson, her great-grandchildren Ariel Franklin, Kaleb and Ivar Wilson, her younger sister Maggie Lee (Hollis) Oliver, and dozens of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to finding strength after the tragic loss of her husband, Rebecca was also a survivor of breast cancer, which she decisively defeated in 1975. Over the years, she supported numerous cancer charities.

In 1997, nearly 47 years after her husband PFC Albert F. Hurtt was Killed in Action, Rebecca memorialized his life, service, and sacrifice at the Nanney-Hollis cemetery. Rebecca’s lifelong devotion to her husband often translated to support for veterans’ causes.

Though her earthly remains will rest near her lifelong home – separated from her husband’s remains by thousands of miles and a Forgotten War -- she will join PFC Albert F. Hurtt and her pre-deceased family in Jesus’ tender arms in Heaven. She will be laid to rest at the Nanney-Hollis family cemetery in Henrietta, Tennessee. Her family will continue the work of reclaiming her husband’s remains from the Korean Peninsula, and his remains will one day hopefully rest alongside hers.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to make contributions to the cancer or veterans’ charity of your choice.