Alta Tilley

MOUNT AIRY, NC ~ A gentle woman Alta Irene Tilley, age 91, of Mount Airy, went to rejoin her family on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at Northern Hospital of Surry County. She was born November 8, 1920 in Surry County to the late John R. Tilley & Lilla Jessup Tilley. Alta was a graduate of Appalachian State Teachers College class of 1943. She was a retired school teacher who taught for 34 years. After retiring, Alta worked as a librarian and tutored her many nieces and nephews. She was a member of Albion Community Church. She is survived by her nieces, Brenda Oakley, Nancy Pataky, Linda Atkins, Elizabeth T. Makepeace and Margaret Tilley; nephews, Grey Tilley, John Tilley, Bruce Tilley, Larry Dean Tilley, J.C. Taylor and Doug Robbins; sister-in-law, Gail Jones Tilley and special friends whom she loved as family, some deceased, some still with us are; Helen, Laura, Judy, Mary, Frances, Margaret and Paul. In addition to her parents, Alta was preceded in death by her sisters, Ida Taylor and Stella Robbins; brothers, Jim, Walter, Horace, Reid, Sam and Kelly Tilley; nieces, Jewell Palmer, Barbara Taylor, Merrily Robbins & Betty Sue Taylor and nephew, Don Tilley. A private graveside service for immediate family only will be held on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at Albion Community Church. Friends and family are asked to attend a Celebration of Life Service to be held on Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Albion Community Church 962 Albion Church Road, Mount Airy, NC 27030. There will be no formal visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Albion Community Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Linda Atkins, 173 Cambridge Way, Mount Airy, NC 27030. The family would like to give special thanks to the staff and residents of Ridgecrest for their love, care & concern through the years. A special thank you to the caring staff in the E.R. of Northern Hospital of Surry County for the love and support shown to Alta and her family October 6th and a special thank you to Rev. Gray Kirkman; God blessed us with his presence just when we needed him most. Howell Funeral Service of Mount Airy is serving the family. "Thanks to a Special Aunt" It was an everyday thing with you to care about other people, to pay attention to what they had to say and how they felt, it was an everyday thing for you to always be kind and giving to each of us, it will be an everyday thing for us to remember you with love and thanks.