Mary Kathryn Dillard

Mary Kathryn “Kaki” Bannister Dillard, 81, of Midland, NC was set free from Alzheimer’s on February 2, 2025. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family. We can rejoice knowing that she is whole again in the arms of her Heavenly Father. 

Kaki was born June 12, 1943 in Mecklenburg County. She spent her early years living in the country with her beloved grandparents, Charles and Margaret Smith, while her dear mother, Kathryn, worked in the city. Her grandfather passed away when she was quite young, but thankfully she was surrounded by a large and loving family as she grew up.

She was excited to graduate from South Mecklenburg High School in 1961 and looked forward to going to college, but educational resources for women were limited at that time. Instead, she enrolled in Cabarrus Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1964. This is where she met her lifelong friends Barbara Clary and Miriam Lewis. 

Miriam and her husband Mickey introduced Kaki to Jimmie Dillard in 1967. He had just come home from the Army. They dated for only 5 weeks before marrying on Christmas Eve that same year, and their marriage lasted for 57 years until her passing. 

Jimmie and Kaki had two daughters, Diana and Heidi. The family moved from Charlotte, NC to Wilmington, NC in the early 1970s. Kaki loved living near the beach but wanted to move back to Charlotte to be near her mother and elderly grandmother, so the family returned to the Windsor Park neighborhood where they lived for many years. Eventually they settled in Midland, NC to live in a beautiful country setting.

She had a very successful and rewarding career as a registered nurse while working in the Dickson Heart Unit of what is now Atrium Main in Charlotte. She cared deeply for her patients and had an excellent bedside manner. When her mother-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, she took early retirement from her nursing career to care for her. 

Known for her kind nature, Kaki lived by the Golden Rule to treat others the way you would like to be treated, setting a good example for her family. She was a talented artist and had a collection of beautiful drawings from her younger days. She was known for her love of nature and had a lovely flower garden that she called her “Purple Garden.” She was devoted to her family, children, and grandchildren. She enjoyed reading to the younger children and getting outside and actually playing with them. Her grandchildren lovingly refer to her as their “Grand-mommy.” 

Kaki was proceeded in death by her grandparents, Charles and Margaret Smith, her mother Kathryn Smith, her grandson, Jimmie Furr, and many precious aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends whom she loved dearly.

She is survived by her loving husband and caretaker Jimmie Wayne Dillard; daughters Diana Brown (Danny) and Heidi Brown (James); grandchildren Jonny (Alina), Nicole, Jessica, Alecia, Emma, and Avery; great-grandchildren Trinity, LillyBelle, Tristan, and Bradley. In addition, she is survived by numerous other relatives and friends that were always close to her heart.

A visitation will be held at Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland, 13575 Broadway Avenue, Midland, NC 28107 on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 12 p.m. in the Jack Hartsell Memorial Chapel. Burial will take place at West Lawn Memorial Park, 1350 South Main Street, China Grove, NC 28203 following the funeral service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Atrium Health Hospice and Palliative Care Cabarrus, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Dillard family.