Dorothy (Defendiefer) Hartman

Dorothy Defendiefer Hartman of Cadwell, GA passed away January 20, 2026, at the age of 96 1/2. Dorothy was born on July 18,1929 in Struthers, Ohio, the 5th of 6 children born to Ross & Anna Jackson Defendiefer.

 She graduated from Struthers High School in 1947 and was the Queen of her Senior Prom. Dorothy worked as a secretary for a law firm, insurance company and for General Motors. She met her future husband, Charlie Marshall Hartman while vacationing with her friends in Miami Beach, FL. On December 17, 1955 they got married & first lived in Miami, FL but moved to Atlanta, GA where they lived until 2005 when they moved to Cadwell, GA. They were married almost 52 years.

 Dorothy was a wonderful wife & mother. She was Marshall’s secretary for his Exercycle business, but her family was her priority & she always made time to listen to her daughters and anyone else who wanted her listening ear. She cared deeply for people. Reading the Bible was a priority as well as listening to sermons. She loved to sing hymns. She was always careful to remember & celebrate birthdays and appreciated sending & receiving letters & cards. She loved to work in the yard and to bake, and her specialty was Apricot Kolaches. No matter what she did or where she was, she was a picture of contentment.Though she was a petite beautiful lady, she had a quiet unmatchable inner strength.

Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, all 5 brothers & sisters and her husband.

She is survived by 2 daughters:  Marsha Reed (Jeff) of SC, Pam Bedingfield (Jimmy) of Cadwell, GA; 6 Grandchildren: Sheryl Hollis (Derek), Chereese Rowe (Jonathan), Jenna Roberts (Daniel), Audrey Gray (Kurt), Weston Bedingfield (Gracie), Olivia Mitchell (Jake); and 13 Great-Grandchildren: Preston Hollis, Ellie Rowe, Graham Hollis, Eva Rowe, AnnaleeRoberts, Nathan Hollis, Nathan Rowe, Rhett Roberts, Blake Gray, Lilly Gray, Micah Hollis, Witt Roberts, & Bo Bedingfield.

On January 31, 2011 Dorothy was stricken with blindness. The family would like to thank the special ladies who helped us love and care for Dorothy in her home for 15 years: Joyce Burney, Kay Holland, Sally Erck, Alice Grinstead, Jean Wilkes, and in this last year the wonderful staff of Addington Place under the direction of Brandon & Adrian Thomas and the staff of Georgia Hospice Care.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, January 22, 2026 at Cadwell Baptist Church with private family burial to follow at the Bedingfield Family Cemetery, Beasley Rd., Cadwell.  The family will receive friends at 2:00 p.m. until the funeral hour at the church.

In lieu to flowers, donations may be made to: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association at billygraham.org or send to CadwellBaptist Church.

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