Lillian Lee (Hurdle) Butts

Our beloved, Lillian Lee Hurdle Farrow Butts, 94 of Browns Mills, New Jersey and formerly of Hertford, NC, departed this life on November 7, 2022.

Her life will be celebrated on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at Melton Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Winfall, NC, at 1:00 pm. She will lie in state from 12:00 noon until time of service. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Remembering Her Life and Legacy

Lillian Lee (Hurdle) Farrow Butts passed away peacefully at her home in Browns Mills, New Jersey surrounded by her family on November 7, 2022, at the age of 94 exactly two weeks prior to her 95th birthday.  She was the youngest of 10 children born to the late George W. Hurdle, Sr and Maggie Ida Hill in Parksville Township, N.C. on Hurdletown Road on November 21, 1927.  Lillian accepted the Lord Christ Jesus at a young age and began her Christian journey at Melton Grove Missionary Baptist Church where she was baptized and also served as member of the usher board. She was educated at Fork Bridge School in Chapanoke, North Carolina and continued to live most of her life in her hometown in North Carolina until she moved to New Jersey in 1993.

Lillian was known by her siblings and close friends as “Stump” ...a nickname her loving father gave to her because of her short stature.  During her lifetime she proved to be an exceptional wife, mother and grandmother for not only her own, but also for many other neighbors and children in her hometown.  She was well known as the ‘Neighborhood Babysitter’ by almost everyone that she cared for and they all continue to refer to her as “Ma”, “Grandma”, “Gal” or “Boop-Boop” until this very day and her response was always ‘Hey Baby’…because everyone was her baby.  She also loved to cook for all of her babies.  We will never forget her candy & snack store and her delicious biscuits, preserves, and pink rice with red sausage recipes.  Her favorite hobbies included crocheting blankets & quilts, wrapping all of the girls’ hair, and making beautiful beaded jewelry at the Medical Day Care she attended in NJ.  Most of all, she truly enjoyed being together with her family for reunions, holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions.  

Willie Mccoy Farrow fell in love with Lillian at first sight while she recited a poem at church.  From that day on they were inseparable; were happily married for 26 years and to this union had nine children: Willie Jr, Maggie, Herbert, George Lee, Glinder, Pearlie, Juanita, Lillie “Ann”, and Lucy.  She later married her second husband Matthew Butts and they were also happily married for 6 years.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Willie McCoy Farrow; second husband Matthew Butts; nine siblings:  Charlie, Odesa, Sherbert, Carlee, Rosie, Penniana, Josephine, George Jr, and James, Sr; four children:  Willie Farrow, Jr., George Lee Farrow; Glinder Brooks, and Juanita Farrow; two grandchildren: Regina Farrow, Nykaja Brooks; one special granddaughter Karen Farrow; two sons-in-law Johnny Rascoe and Rodney Majeed. 

Lillian leaves behind to carry on her legacy five children Maggie Majeed of Browns Mills, NJ; Herbert Farrow of Browns Mills, NJ; Pearlie Farrow of Hertford, NC; Lillie “Ann” Stewart (Marvin) of Pemberton, NJ, and Lucy Rascoe of Hertford, NC; son-in-law Carlton Brooks, Sr., of Mt. Laurel, NJ; eighteen grandchildren: Tristan, Melissa “Lisa” (Jerome), Jermaine (Tanya), Ramon, Alfonzo, Jr (Erica), LaTisha “Tasha” (Alexis), Keisa, Tamika, Baheejah, Travis, Carlton, Jr, Lorenzo (Renita), Herbert, Jr, Shanice, Sheena, Kendrick, Shakelia “Keeda”, and Trevor; 30 great grandchildren, 22 great-great grandchildren, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Mitchell Funeral Care and Cremations is serving the family. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.