Nell Martin Hilyer

Published 4:06 pm Friday, June 21, 2019

Nell Martin Hilyer 71, of Taylors died on June 15, 2019 in Greenville SC.

Born on June 3, 1948 in Clanton, Alabama, she was a daughter of the late Harlem Martin and Ressie Ellison Martin.

She was retired from the Columbia Skin Clinic. Following her retirement, she and her husband Jim moved to the Greenville area to be near family.

Nell was a sister, wife, mom and grandmother who leaves behind a legacy of friendships and life lessons. Her laugh could fill a room, and she gave the best hugs.

Some favorite lessons have to do with friendship and being polite. For instance, you should never give your opinion unless asked. And, you should always avoid hurting someone’s feelings. You should never take the lord’s name in vain.

But what you might not know about Nell is that she loved Elvis and Neil Diamond. She loved singing and had been known to play the tambourine. She made Italian cream cakes at Christmas and pound cakes for birthdays.

She made the best chicken salad ever. And no, she didn’t use a recipe. She just added ingredients until “it looked right”.

Nell was a caregiver who focused on the needs of others until her final days. She ultimately died of a broken heart 5 months after Jim’s passing. Today, they are reunited in heaven with restored bodies and minds.

Nell’s daughter and her family will miss her forever and they will strive to continue her legacy.

Her husband Jim Hilyer predeceased Nell on January 22, 2019. Continue to pray for her survivors, her daughter and son-in-law Rena and Bryan Stevens and her two grandsons Stiles and John Matthew Stevens. She is also survived by siblings, Feba and Don Hardyman and Bo and Mike Blankenship; and nieces and nephews, Laurie Marcus, Annie Blankenship, Don Hardyman, II and Martin Blankenship.

A service to celebrate Nell’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, 2019, at Martin Funeral Home in Clanton, AL with a visitation prior to the service from 10 a.m. until 10:45 am.

Burial will follow the service in Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Alabama.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com.

Whitaker Funeral Home of Newberry, SC and Martin Funeral Home of Clanton are assisting the family.