Mary Martha Gilbert Hilbun

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Mary Martha Gilbert Hilbun, 91, of Vicksburg, MS passed away surrounded by her family on October 28, 2025, at River Region Medical Center.

Born in Vicksburg, MS on February 23, 1934, Mary Martha was a 1952 graduate of Saint Francis Xavier Academy, where she was a cheerleader and received one of highest academic awards as a senior. After graduation, she attended Barry College for Women in Miami, Florida. Shortly thereafter, she met and married her love, James T. Hilbun Sr. and raised their four children in Vicksburg. Mary Martha would often tell people how thankful she was to have been able to stay at home and raise her children. A devout catholic, she and her husband were lifelong members of Saint Paul Catholic Church and attended mass every Saturday evening. She was a member of the Altar Society and the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary Martha, lovingly known by her grandchildren, their friends, and the Lake Forest neighborhood children as “Grammy”, enjoyed attending her grandchildren and great children’s sporting events and was an avid Atlanta Braves fan. Her love and loyalty to the St. Aloysius Flashes never faded and she looked forward to Friday night radio broadcasts of Flashes football. Mary Martha cherished time spent with her family and would often reminisce about cooking pancakes for breakfast and homemade spaghetti for lunch for her grandchildren and family friends. She never met a stranger and always welcomed people into her home. She enjoyed sitting on her back porch, on the lake, watching the ducks and geese and listening to the birds chirping. Mary Martha was the caretaker for her husband, following his stroke, for 18 years up until his death in 2015. She was a proud, independent woman and lived at their home until her death.

Mary Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Gray Turner Gilbert and Pauline Gargaro Gilbert; her husband, James T. Hilbun Sr.; her grandson, Bobby Hilbun.

She is survived by her four children, James T. “ Jimbo” Hilbun (Dede), Tim Hilbun, Cindy Park (Howard) and Missy Lynch (Gary) and her brother Gray Thomas Gilbert (Brenda). She is also survived by six grandchildren Jamie Hilbun, Candice Reeder, Neesi Stokes (Justin), Catelyn Skipper (Hayden), Hunter Lynch (Ellie), Rachel Lynch and 11 great-grandchildren John Robert Reeder, Cale Stokes, Mary Frances Hilbun, Charlie Reeder, Maylee Stokes, Laney Lynch, Emmy Lynch, Lucy Hilbun, Lawson Skipper, Ryan Reeder, and Gray Skipper.

The family extends gratitude to the health care providers at Merit Health River Region especially the ER staff and the exceptional care she received from the fourth-floor nursing staff. Also, the nurses and staff at Enhabit Hospice Care.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 30 from Noon until 2 pm at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home, 5000 Indiana Avenue. A Funeral Mass will be held following the visitation at Saint Paul Catholic Church at 3:00 pm with the Rev. Rusty Vincent officiating. Pallbearers will be Jamie Hilbun, Hunter Lynch, John Robert Reeder, Hayden Skipper, Justin Stokes and Casey Stubbs.

Graveside services will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vicksburg Catholic School to the new Multi-purpose building.