Alma Hunter Herbeck

Mrs. Alma Hunter Herbeck, 88, widow of George Herbeck and former resident of Park Drive, died Saturday, January 8, 2005 at Maury Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Tom Vann and Rev. Jim Hughes officiating. Burial will be in the Little Lot Cemetery in Hickman County. Family and friends will visit Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 222 West 7th Street, Columbia. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. The Hickman County native was the only child of Mary Lou Spence Hunter, born 1889 and Jesse P. Hunter, born 1882. Her grandfather, James W. Hunter and his twin brother, were born in 1848 in Maury County, later moving to Hickman County. As a child, she attended schools in Little Lot and later in Centerville. In her early teens, piano lessons began with Mrs. Forrest Nixon in Centerville. After high school graduation in 1934, she continued lessons and began teaching piano in 1934. She accompanied Mrs. Nixon to the Chicago Musical College to continue her music studies. She earned a B.S. Degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 1942, majoring in social studies and music. She received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Chicago Musical College and a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Peabody College. Her first job was in the Hot Springs, Arkansas city school system, teaching 2nd grade. She also taught in Franklin for several years, returning to Hot Springs for a time before settling in Centerville to teach full time for eleven years, culminating in a 35-year teaching career. While living in Hot Springs, she met and married George Herbeck, a builder from North Dakota. Mr. Herbeck was born in Norway, but at an early age came to the United States with his family and settled in North Dakota. He died in 1974. The United Methodist Church was always a very important part of Mrs. Herbeck's life. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and served as president of United Methodist Women and on the District Council of the organization. She was a devoted member of the Ayres-Whitney Sunday School Class. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and the Retired Teachers' Association. Survivors include four cousins, Mildred Haley of Duck River, Paul Mayberry of Centerville, Martha Huggins of Hermitage and Anna Laura Hunt of Duck River; special friends, Lawrence Douglas, Patricia Prince, Patricia Holloway and Opal Cummins. Members of the Ayres-Whitney Sunday School Class will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.