Judith Britt Hiers

LAKELAND - Judith Britt Hiers, 71, passed away on August 19, 2016, from complications due to Multiple Myeloma. Born in Roanoke, Virginia on June 21, 1945, to parents Harold Edward Britt and Marie Estelle Britt. She moved with her family in 1947 to reside in Lakeland, Florida. Attended Kathleen High School where she was a Red Devil Cheerleader and graduated in 1963. She was a striking beauty and entered the Miss Lakeland pageant in 1964. She later attended Polk Community College and received her Associate of Arts degree. She married David Lamar Hiers from Bartow in 1967 and had two children. She attended First Baptist Church of Bartow for many years, taught Sunday school, and volunteered for her children’s school events. She worked for Florida Citrus Mutual as a secretary and Bartow Elementary as a teacher’s aid. She later worked for the Polk County School Board for 20 years in Human Resources and retired in 2010. She loved and cared for her children and extended family with her whole heart. She was a great cook, talented gardener, wonderful mother, and teacher. She was fun loving, imaginative, crafty and artistic. She loved traveling and family vacations at our Ocala cabin, the beach and the mountains. She was strong and reserved, a humble and gentle soul. Everyone who knew her would agree that she was genuinely kind and caring. She always looked for the good in people. She had a beautiful smile and a big heart. She is preceded in death by her father, Harold E. Britt; mother, Marie T. Ritter; stepfather, Herman V. Ritter; former husband, David L. Hiers. She is survived by her son, David J. Hiers; daughter, Keely Hiers Chestnut (Kevin); and brother, George Daniel Britt (Karen). Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2016, at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow, Florida. Visitation: 1pm-2pm; Service begins at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Florida Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 8190, Lakeland, FL 33802, www.FBCHomes.org