Judith Lockhart Hylton

The most beautiful, kindest soul is singing and dancing at Jesus’ feet.

Judith Carolyn Lockhart Hylton, 81 years young, of Lexington, NC has been reunited with her beloved husband Dewey Ward Hylton Jr, passing away peacefully in her sleep on July 5, 2026.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, July 11, 2026 at Union Grove Baptist Church where she was a long time member. The service will be officiated by Rev. Harold Fletcher and Rev. T.W. Bailey. Burial will follow in the church cemetery as she is laid to rest next to our Dad, her Dewey.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Friday, July 10, 2026, at Davidson Funeral Home, Hickory Tree Chapel. We ask that you please refrain from wearing any strong fragrances in consideration of those with allergies. 

Mom was born and raised in Wayne County West Virginia to a poor farmhand family. She was the 9th out of 10 children born to Lorenzo Dow and Hattie May (Billips) Lockhart. Her father brought 3 children with him as well to complete their family of 15. She lost her father at the age of 13 and watched her mom handle it all with grace. She grew up riding bareback in the fields and walking a few miles to school each way. She gave her life to Jesus as a young 12 year old, sitting on the front row of church one morning. She never looked back. All seven of her brothers joined the military in different branches and ended up settling all over the United States. She was extremely proud of all of them, and she and dad loved taking trips to visit them. Many of her siblings passed on years ago, she most recently lost her brothers Bobby and Buck. She took these losses extremely hard as she was exceptionally close to them.

She wore many hats of devotion during her lifetime: Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Wife, Mother, and Child of God. No one was more dear to her on this earth than her husband. She first laid eyes on “her Dewey” in 1969 when working at Inco in Huntington, WV. Mom and a colleague could see the new interns for the company walking in; she claimed the cute, young, curly-haired, Virginia Tech intern and deemed it love at first sight. They had their first date and were wed within 4 months. They were married just short of 39 years before he passed May 30th, 2008. I don’t know that anyone ever heard them argue or fight. They spent all their free time together and were seldom apart. The love they shared was a love that other couples admire and strive to achieve. God was kept at the center of their relationship which allowed them to spill that love and devotion into our family creating a near perfect childhood. Mom and Dad gave us the example on how to keep Christ the foundation of our marriages.

As a mother of two children, Dewey Edward and Mary Beth, she took on positions within the school cafeteria system so she could have the same hours as her children. This gave us not only evening hours, but every summer as well. During some of those summers, she served as the lunch manager at Kiwanis Kiddie Camp, where she joyfully hired Dewey and me as her helpers, creating cherished memories. She and dad kept our lives full of love and life with many beach trips, lake-life skiing on Lake Norman, tent camping and endless summer nights swimming with us in the pool. Mom found great joy in caring for family and friends through her talents and acts of love. She was an accomplished quilter and a gifted seamstress who lovingly made our clothes when we were young and even sewed fashionable outfits for my Barbie dolls and all of Cindy’s bridesmaid dresses. Even though none of us were fitted at the same time, she made sure all our dresses were the exact same length from the floor. She delighted in baking, especially during the Christmas season, when family and friends looked forward to her homemade holiday treats. Mom loved us and our friends just as much. She made our house welcoming and inviting for everyone. Most of our youth group from Union Grove Baptist Church, and friends from North Davidson High School spent the majority of their summers swimming, watching movies, playing pool, ping pong, sleeping, and being fed by our mom. She never complained about the mess (ok, maybe sometimes), but never mentioned about all the mouths to feed and the grocery bill. She had a dedicated fridge in the garage just for us and our friends. We always thought she and dad were the “cool” parents allowing us to take over the house. Now, as parents ourselves, we realize how purposeful Mom and Dad were. They shepherded our lives caring deeply about our well-being and faithfully staying involved in our lives by knowing where we were, who our friends were and discipling us every step of the way.

After dad passed, she struggled with loneliness. Living 3 hours away from my mom was a struggle, but thankfully my brother was nearby. We spoke at least once a day, and probably haven’t missed, but a handful of days calling unless one of us was traveling. She eventually moved in with my family and I in Wilmington, NC. While in Wilmington, she enjoyed movie nights with the family, Golden Corral at a moments notice, boating adventures, go-cart racing, and taking rides on the property in all of Kevin’s new toys. She proudly declared herself certified collector of the chicken eggs. After 2 years of living at the beach, she decided she wanted to slow down. Living with younger children was not for the weak, but truly she longed for her dear friends and wanted to move back home. Returning to Davidson County, she loved playing cards, watching movies with the family, and making memories with her grandchildren. As if she somehow knew, almost as soon as she moved in with Dewey and Cindy, her health declined drastically. She lived with him and his family for 4 years until she fell asleep, waking up in heaven.

Mom was preceded in death by her mom and dad, all but one sibling, and her precious Dewey. Surviving are her one sister Lucy Warren in West Virginia, her son Dewey Edward (Cindy) of Welcome, NC; her daughter Mary Beth Harker (Kevin) of Wilmington, NC; 5 grandchildren, Allison (of the home) and Matthew Hylton (currently stationed with the US Navy in Japan) of Welcome, NC; Jaidyn, Mia, and Ryder Harker of Wilmington, NC.

She will be missed more than words can express, and her absence will be deeply felt by all who knew and loved her. Yet we grieve with hope, thankful that she and Dad placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We find comfort in God’s promise that we will see them again and spend eternity together in heaven. Mom’s greatest desire was that everyone would come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Her final wish is if you are reading this today and have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, her heartfelt prayer would be that you place your faith in Him and follow Him so she can see you too in Glory!

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Plead 4 the Privilege, Compassion International, or Trellis Supportive Care.

Davidson Funeral Home, Hickory Tree Chapel is honored to serve the Hylton family.