Regina Catherine Hildreth

Regina Catherine Duke Hildreth, age 92, of Northport, Ala., passed away February 26, 2023 at Forest Manor Nursing Home. Services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2023, at Magnolia Chapel North with Dr. John Nixon officiating. Burial will follow in Flatwoods Baptist Church Cemetery, Northport, Ala. Visitation will be 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. at Magnolia Chapel North in Northport, Ala.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman Hildreth; parents, Guyle Nelson Duke and Ethel McClain Duke; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Nelson and Wilma Duke; sisters, Rita Duke Dean and Ann Duke Smith.

Survivors include her daughter, Debbie Hildreth; sons, Glenn Hildreth (Barbara) and Greg Hildreth (Connie); grandchildren, Emmie Sherertz (Sam), Elizabeth Akins (Will), Claire Wilkes (Chandler), and Kathryn Hildreth (Chris Neal); great-grandchildren, Ben Sherertz, Charlee Akins, Alex Sherertz, Max Akins, Everett Wilkes, Shep Neal, Emerson Wilkes, and Wells Neal. Other surviving relatives include Rev. Pratt Dean, Steve Smith, Frances Hildreth Jones, and Bill Hildreth (Zee).

Regina Catherine Duke Hildreth was born on January 19, 1931 in Birmingham, Alabama.  Her family moved to Gadsden when she was two years old.  She graduated from Gadsden High School, then attended Blue Mountain College in Blue Mountain, Mississippi.  She earned a double major in Music and Bible.

After her graduation from Blue Mountain, she moved to Sheffield, Alabama, to work at First Baptist Church there.  For many years she served the church in several different roles.  She was church secretary, financial secretary, choir leader and organist.  Soon after her move to Sheffield she met her “intended.”  On February 20, 1953, she married Herman Hildreth.  They raised their family and remained in Sheffield until retirement.  She spent years teaching many students how to play the piano.  This was her gift.

In 1991, our parents moved to Pensacola to begin an exciting new career – grandparenting.  Being Ame to her granddaughters and later, her great-grandchildren was a special treasure for her.  Mother was again active in their church in Pensacola.  She enjoyed working in children’s choirs and playing handbells.  Later in that decade, they moved to Northport.  She decided to reenter the workforce.  She served at Northwood Hills Baptist Church as church secretary and organist.  She and our dad attended Northport Baptist.  She remained active in church activities for as long as she was physically able.

Mother was diagnosed with Spinocerebellar ataxia in 2002.  Over time her speech and walking abilities were severely impacted.  When the disease progressed significantly, she moved to Forest Manor Nursing Facility, where she resided until her death.  She enjoyed activities there, including her daily “Stretch and Bend” exercise time.  The staff at Forest Manor cared well for her during these years.  She appreciated them and they appreciated her.  When she was out of the facility for a time, she was always ready to go back to her home there.  We want to offer a huge thank you to the caregivers there, especially those on Station Three who were with her each day.

Her brain and her wit remained sharp through all the challenges she faced.  Her laugh was always contagious.  She was feisty.  She was calm.  She loved Jesus and loved to read her Bible.  She was our prayer warrior for all the days of her life.

Pallbearers will be Mark Smith, Larry Morton, Mark Jones, Jimmy Parton, Sam Sherertz, Will Akins, Chandler Wilkes, and Chris Neal. Honorary pallbearers are Caregivers at Forest Manor, including Dr. Jackie Luker, Pam Box, Nikki Hill, Patricia McGraw, Beadie Bryant, Gloria Terrell, Lisa Leatherwood, Elizabeth Burns, Deloris Walker, Natasha Williams, Terica Craig, and Catherine Brown

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to the National Ataxia Foundation, P.O. Box 27986, Golden Valley, MN 55427 http://www.ataxia.org