1920-2025
Mrs. Marian Edna Rutherford Hillman of Fordyce Arkansas passed away Saturday February 22, 2025 at age 104. Born April 19, 1920 in Sparkman Arkansas, the daughter of Horace and Mae Bell (Gilliam) Rutherford.
Preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Woodrow Hillman, her sister Dorothy Pearson (Mac) and her brother, Horace Rutherford, Jr. (Mary Ann), she is survived by her son, Thomas "Woody" Hillman, her daughter Susan Hillman (Randy Gifford), five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and a large extended family. She dearly loved all and told them often. They loved her in return.
Warm, intelligent and witty, Marian maintained her youthful spirit and keen sense of humor to the end of her life. While it is impossible to describe 104 years in a short synopsis, there are some traits and memories that stand out for those who knew her well.
She was an avid Razorback fan and supporter. Marian and Woodrow traveled by motorhome to many games, building a large network of friends along the way. Lively entertainers, they hosted popular tailgate parties and welcomed many hungry students to the generous spread. The Razorback Swim Team were frequent guests.
As a Razorback sponsor, she helped create scrapbooks for players to chronicle their seasons. Basketball star Sidney Moncrief was one and they kept in contact. When he was first featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, he sent her an autographed poster and it hung, framed, in her hallway among her family photos for many years.
Marian wrote to coaches when she thought they needed guidance or encouragement and corresponded regularly with football coach Lou Holtz during his time at Arkansas. While occasionally open when frustrated, she was also the first to defend the team, coaches or players if she felt they were being judged unfairly. She was a strong supporter, regardless of the outcome of the season.
She and Woodrow loved to travel in their motorhome and would often go to destinations specifically to fish - and they caught a LOT of fish. There are no official records to indicate which of them caught more, but rumors persist. They spent several winters on Lake Okeechobee in Florida and later were hosts to campgrounds on Arkansas’ Lake DeGray for several seasons. She was happy on a lake, in a boat with a pole in hand.
She loved living in Fordyce. While she was born in Sparkman, and spent many years on the gulf coast of Florida, once she relocated her family to Fordyce, she said she had found her home. As owners of Hillman’s Building Supply, she and Woodrow knew the members of the community well. After Woodrow passed away, she worked in local retail stores until she was 98, lending a stylish fashion sense and kind manner to all her customers.
She was active at The First United Methodist Church, and volunteered throughout her life for the church and civic organizations. She and Woodrow graciously offered their motorhome for Johnny and June Cash to use as their dressing room when they performed at the Fordyce on the Cotton Belt Festival.
During COVID, the city held a parade in front of her home to celebrate her 100th birthday and for her 102nd, she was awarded the key to the city as Fordyce’s favorite centenarian.
She was a gracious hostess known for her talent in the kitchen, and the events she hosted remain a part of her legacy as many carry the warm memories of her Christmas Eve gatherings. She welcomed her guests with great enthusiasm, her recipe collection is a treasure and her cornbread was legendary. She was infectiously charming and her ability to collect and nurture friendships never ended.
Her family and friends will miss her unique spirit, but celebrate a long and joyful life we were fortunate to have shared.
Graveside services will be 2:00 pm Saturday at Stoney Point Cemetery in Fordyce.
