Georgia McKenzie Hildreth, 94, died peacefully in the Laurel Crest Retirement Community on May 17, 2021. She was born on October 15, 1926 in Richwood, West Virginia, to Annie Louise Carey McKenzie and George Thomas McKenzie, and was the youngest of nine children.
After graduating from school with excellent grades, she took Georgia’s career and personal life from West Virginia to Maryland, Georgia and the Washington, DC area, where she lived for over 40 years before moving to South Carolina. After a brief career in the private sector and several years as a home mom to Ron, whom she often referred to as her “perfect son,” Georgia began working for the federal government, where she developed and then retired 30 years of service in 1982.
After retiring, Georgia spent time with family, pursued numerous hobbies, and volunteered in the ward and church. She loved to dance and spent many evenings with friends. Her skills as a bridge player enabled her to connect regularly with those in the communities she lived in and helped her make new friends after moving to South Carolina a few years ago. Her love of travel took her around the world; She religiously sent postcards and collected stamps for granddaughter Amy. In her 80s she drove with her dear friend Naida Chevrier on a road trip through the USA. She gave up her time and took care of many family members and friends. Until she recently moved to South Carolina, she volunteered for Meals on Wheels and her local hospice agency. Georgia was a dedicated member of the Bush Hill Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia, and served on many committees within the Church. Most recently, she was the president of the Laurel Crest Retirement Community Resident Council.
Georgia was caring, loyal, lively, strong-willed, and adventurous. She expressed her opinion with conviction, even if it contradicted the opinion of the population. She made friends of all ages easily and often filled the room with laughter. She loved sitting by the sea, preparing favorite recipes for the family like her famous mashed potatoes, joking with her friends and reading to great-grandchildren Simon and Max.
Georgia is survived by son Ron Hildreth and daughter-in-law Amy Herin from Columbia, SC, granddaughter Amy Hildreth and husband Herbert Krabel, great-grandson Simon and Max Krabel, and former daughter-in-law Cheryl Hildreth. Her parents and siblings Verna McClure, Ruby Cottrill, Myrtle Woodring, Daniel McKenzie, Rhoda Kilpatrick, Norvel McKenzie, Nora Mae Alt and Melvin McKenzie precede her death.
There will be a service on Saturday, May 22nd at 11 a.m. at Elmwood Cemetery, Columbia. Instead of flowers, donations can also be made to Doctors Without Borders and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, supports the family.
