Betty Lou Hilburn

Betty L. Hilburn, age 86, passed away peacefully leaving behind a legacy of warmth, family devotion, and a lifelong love for nurturing – whether it be people, plants, or her beloved pets.

Betty Lou Brabo was born in Lapeer, Michigan on July 22, 1940, to the late Clarence and Dorothy Brabo. In 1967, she met and married her first husband, Kenneth L. Smith. Following the birth of their daughter, Kimberly, in 1968, Ken’s career brought the young family south to Lilburn, Georgia, where their second daughter, Pamela, was born in 1972. After a brief period in Clarksville, Tennessee, the family settled permanently in Cartersville in 1979.

Over the next decade the Smith house became the hang out spot. Betty stayed home and was there to take care of us each afternoon, during every school holiday and especially those snow days where the hot cocoa kept flowing while our frozen toes warmed by the fire.

As her children grew, Betty re-entered the workforce, spending nearly 15 years at Kmart Store #3685. Countless community members came to know her through her extraordinary gift with plants and flowers, frequently seeking out her expert advice in the garden shop. She later paused her career to selflessly care for her ailing parents. Upon returning to work, she served as the medical records custodian for the Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic, a role she held until her retirement at age 70.

After several years of singlehood following Ken's passing, love found Betty again. She met Herbert Hilburn in 2013, and the two were wed on December 20, 2014. Together, they shared beautiful twilight years filled with spontaneous road trips, scenic car rides, and deep, loving conversations.

Betty was preceded in death by her first husband, Kenneth L. Smith, in 1987, and her beloved daughter, Kimberly Smith, in 2023.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Herbert Hilburn; her loving daughter, Pamela Smith; and her cherished granddaughter, Laurel Lowe, alongside a community of friends who will deeply miss her gentle spirit.