Ora Aitken

Ora Mae Aitken, 97, a former long time resident of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away peacefully at home in Knoxville, TN on Sunday November 30, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. Ora Mae was preceded in death by parents William “JT” and Stella Mae Hipp, husband Lewis E. Aitken, Sr, both sons, Lewis E. Aitken, Jr, and William Howard Aitken. She was also preceded in death by grand-daughter Cassandra Leigh Aitken, daughter-in-law Renee Aitken, grandson-in-law William Burgess, as well as siblings Carolyn Lowery, Catherine Ogburn, Chalmers Hipp, Ernestine Whitten, James Hipp, and Eleanor Brasher.

Ora Mae is survived by 5 grandchildren: Tammy Burgess, Michelle Chappell (Joseph),Terri Braden-Pedarla (Vijaya), Daniel Aitken (Melissa), Duane Aitken (Stephanie); 9 Great-grandchildren: Winsley Handley (Nathan), Charlie Burgess, Michael Burgess, Nicholas Tanguay (Faith), PJ Braden, Tyler Aitken, Matthew Aitken, Andrew Aitken, Olivia Aitken; and 5 Great-Great grandchildren: Vincent Burgess, Victor Handley, Christian Handley, Ivy Burgess, and Briar Burgess. She is also survived by her sister Jane Coshatt and former daughter-in-law and longtime friend, Catrina Bland (James) as well as many nieces and nephews.

Ora Mae was widowed at a very young age and never remarried. She was a devoted mother and grandmother and was affectionately known as “Mama Aitken.” Ora Mae worked until she was 82 years old, having retired from Parsons, Lee, & Juliano after 20+ years. She enjoyed going into the office and was well treated and cared for by her coworkers after signs of dementia started showing. She got to enjoy long stays in Knoxville, cruises, and beach trips once the family talked her into retiring.

Mama Aitken loved old movies on TCM and was never without her puzzle books. She got great satisfaction from weeding flower beds. If there was a weed sticking out, you could count on her to stop everything to pull it up so everything looked tidy!! Mama Aitken also loved watching Alabama Crimson Tide football and did her fair share of couch and recliner coaching! Once she told us her doctor instructed her to quit watching football because it was raising her blood pressure!!

She loved all her grandchildren very much and she was well loved and protected by them. She had a great sense of humor and could be very quick witted with the back and forth bantering. Mama Aitken was a rock and a constant presence in our lives and she will be greatly missed by all of us. We were truly blessed to have her with us for as long as we did and for that, we are truly grateful! We take comfort in knowing that she is with our Lord and Savior and no longer suffering the affects of dementia.

The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful care Mama Aitken received from Smokey Mountain Hospice in West Knoxville. A truly wonderful group of skilled and caring people!

Arrangements are as follows:

Celebration of Life

Sunday December 7,2025

5pm - 7pm

Kilgroe Funeral Home

1750 Ashville Rd

Leeds, AL 35094

Graveside Burial

Monday December 8, 2025

11am

*Family and friends will meet at Kilgroe Funeral Home from 10am until the 11am procession to Forest Crest Cemetery located at 5730 US-78 Birmingham, AL 35210