Hilda Grace Hurt

HILDA GRACE HURT of Ocean Grove, New Jersey, daughter of Harvey Dixie Smith and Marlene (Molly) Smith, was born on December 1, 1942 in Grifton, North Carolina.  Harvey & Molly were blessed with many children, of which Hilda was the second oldest. Hilda was taken into God’s care on Monday, January 6, 2020 at the age of seventy-seven.

At fifteen, Hilda moved from North Carolina to New York to work as a live-in nanny for a family on the upper east side.  On weekends, Hilda would visit her mother in Long Branch, NJ which is where she met an auxiliary police officer and mechanic, Jimmy Lewis Hurt.  Jimmy nicknamed her “Peach” because she reminded him of his favorite sweet fruit from Georgia.  On May 22, 1961, Hilda married Jimmy in Long Branch, NJ.  This union was blessed with six children.

Hilda attained her GED in 1977 graduating as valedictorian of her class.  She also obtained her license in cosmetology, was an avid fisherman, organic gardener and plant-enthusiast, was a self-taught and talented classic pianist and artist in many media including oil, watercolors, chalk, needlepoint, crotchet and sewing.  Hilda was the “go-to” parent for making costumes for her children’s school plays.  On top of being a full-time wife and mother during the days, in the evenings, Hilda would clean cars side-by-side with Jimmy. In 1977, they opened Jim Hurt & Sons Auto Recondition Center on Shrewsbury Avenue in Tinton Falls. 

Hilda is pre-deceased by her husband of thirty-nine years, Jimmy L, Sr., her great-grandson, Roman Hayes and her sister, Helen Reed (NC). Left to cherish her memories are her children, Jimmy Lewis, Jr. (Stephanie) of Dacula, GA, Rhonda Hurt (Bernard Hayes) of Covington, GA, Rita Peavy (Garry) of Neptune, Roslyn Steverson (Darren) of Neptune, Dollie Blanks (Warren “Mickey”) of Fullerton, CA and Jason Allen, Sr. (Shanell) of Reynoldsburg, OH; four sisters, Gloria Hicks (OH), Barbara Ann Shaw (MD) and Thelma Shaw (OH) and one brother, Willie Shaw (OH).  She will also be missed by her grandchildren: Sherelle Alexander (Demonte), Olivia Whiteside (Sam), Candyce Hayes, Alicia Hurt, Jimmy Hurt, III, William “BJ” Hayes, Melissa Outland (Cody), Leah Peavy, Darren Steverson, Rebecca Peavy, Sonia Hurt, Xavier Blanks, Andrea Alexander (Ryan), Noah Steverson, Lauren Blanks, Jason Hurt, Jr., Camille Blanks, Donovan Steverson, Taylynn Hurt, Torra Hurt and seven great-grandchildren: Melanie Hayes, Isaiah Rainey, Lily Whiteside, Wolfgang Whiteside, Bryson Alexander, Ezekiel Alexander; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A devoted woman of God and a loving, giving woman to her family and friends, Hilda was an extraordinary mother to her own children and to an extended family of children at the church as well as the community. We were all truly blessed and honored to know her, to love her and to be loved by her!  There will never be another like her.

We love you, miss you and will see you and daddy, again!

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