Statesville, NC.    On January 10, 2026, Lula Mae Hatten, aged 82, joined her beloved husband, David at the gates of heaven. Lula was born July 14, 1943, in Washington County, TN to the late Talbert Hicks and Lena Presnell Hicks. In 1963, she married the late David G. Hatten and together they shared forty-nine years of marriage until his passing in 2012. Lula was of the Baptist faith. Her greatest joys were her son, Michael who was born in 1968, as well as her grandchildren, Chris and Grace. Lula worked in the West Iredell Highschool kitchen from the time it opened in 1972 until her retirement in 2005. She also retired from Brookdale Peachtree in Statesville in 2012 after 17 years of dedicated service. Lula was also a den mother to her son's boy scout troop, a master of mechanics, and had a wicked sense of humor. A lifelong negotiator, her son always joked that she never paid full price for a thing in her life. In fact, she would probably blow a gasket if she knew he spent money on a full obituary rather than a simple death notice. But as she was a woman of grace. love, and immense faith, she is more than deserving of a farewell tribute.

Along with her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers and sister, Clinard, Betty, Bynum and Dennis Hicks, as well as a sister in love, Faye Auton. Those left to cherish her memories are her son, Michael Hatten and his wife Heather of Harmony, NC. Her grandson Chris Hatten of Morganton, NC, granddaughter Grace Mitchell Hatten of Harmony, and a granddaughter in love, Elizabeth Fox of Taylorsville, NC. She is also survived by her sister-in-Law, Evelyn Hicks of Boone. NC, as well as several nieces and nephews including a special nephew, Richard Auton of Newton, NC. The family would like to send a special thank you to her closest friends, Norma and Randy Ervin of Statesville, NC, for their years of love and support to Lula before and after the death of her husband, as well as her neighbors Bobby and Mrs. Stevens who also looked after her in her later years.

Arrangements are pending and will be announced.

Online condolences may be sent to the Hatten Family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral Service of Boone is in charge of arrangements.