Rilla Ann Townsend Mrs. Huntley

WADESBORO - Mrs. Rilla Ann Townsend Huntley, 93, was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 after being a resident at Anson Health and Rehabilitation since November. There will be a service of worship celebrating her life at 11:00am Saturday, February 6, 2016 at First Baptist Church, Wadesboro with Dr. Fred Senter officiating. A private inurnment will be in Eastview Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 5:00pm until 7:00pm Friday, February 5, 2016 at Leavitt Funeral Home. Rilla was born May 7, 1922 in Coffeyville, KS, the daughter of the late Dr. Pinkney Shannon Townsend and the late Grace Rilla Patterson Townsend. During her high school days in Coffeyville she was featured as the singer on a weekly radio show. She enjoyed time spent watching the local high school and college students rehearse for plays at their home, as her mother directed the plays. It was then that Rilla realized she was too shy to go on stage herself, and this affected her dream of being in the chorus line at Radio City Musical Hall; never the star, but always in the ensemble. After attending William Woods College in Fulton, MO, Rilla went on to graduate from Kansas University in 1943. Soon after returning home to Coffeyville, she met Haywood Brill Huntley, a young Army Air Corps finance officer from Wadesboro who was stationed nearby. Both Rilla and Brill loved to share the story of how he first caught her eye thanks to the bright new convertible he had acquired to use as he carried out his duties. They were married on July 23, 1944, and came to make their home in Wadesboro following World War II. At first shy and overwhelmed by Brills great number of family and friends, along with the many new customs of southern living, Rilla quickly adapted and became a true Southern Belle. Rilla became a member of First Baptist Church, Wadesboro in 1946. She sang in the Chancel Choir for 60 years, taught Sunday school almost as long and was ordained as a deacon. Her love of theater and music led her to write and direct church plays and musical variety shows for the choir. Always the director, she was never on stage until years later when the Minister of Music convinced her to emcee the revival of one of her musicals. Having to joke and comment her way through extended costume changes for the cast members, it soon became evident that she was a hit. (She even thought she was pretty good herself) In 1974, Rilla and Brill built a vacation home near Boone, NC, and soon their summers were spent with new friends in the High Country, where they attended First Baptist Church of Blowing Rock. Surviving are her sons, Haywood Brill Wood Huntley, Jr. and wife, Beirne Donaldson, of Mendham, NJ, and Shannon Townsend Huntley and wife, Elaine, of Garner, NC; her grandchildren, Margo Rusmisel and husband, Joseph Perl, of Burlington, VT, and David Ray Bullard and wife, Jessica, of Raleigh; her great-grandchildren, Keira Brooke Bullard and Kyle Jamison Bullard; her brother, James Townsend and wife Winona of Lenexa, KS, her nieces and their families, as well as her wonderful loving church family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Haywood Brill Huntley, and her great-granddaughter, Kaitlin Nicole Bullard. The family wishes to express their sincere and heartfelt gratitude to Rillas church family and friends for their loving care and support for her over the years, and most recently to the staff of Anson Health and Rehabilitation who have lovingly cared for her since November. Rilla will be remembered for her gentle, loving spirit and quick wit. The nurses at Anson Health and Rehab fondly recall her combination of feisty and sweet as she often entertained them in the evenings and assisted with folding the napkins for the other residents, making sure it was done correctly. Her grace and charm remained with her until the end, as she always said, Yes, please. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Chancel Choir, P.O. Box 423, Wadesboro, NC 28170. The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com Visitation Leavitt Funeral Home Friday February 5th, 2016 5:00pm - 7:00pm 2036 Morven Road Wadesboro, NC 28170 Memorial Service First Baptist Church Saturday February 6th, 2016 11:00am 309 Lee Avenue Wadesboro, NC 28170