Mrs. Dorothy “Dot” Marie Brittain Tallent, 85, of Hickory, passed away on Friday, February 6, 2026, at her residence, following a period of declining health.

Dot was born on April 8, 1940, in Burke County, to the late Elmer Brittain and Nelie Smith Brittain. She was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and a member of Wilkie’s Grove Baptist Church. Dot was also a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and homemaker, and will be greatly missed by her tremendous family, who loved her deeply.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Steve Tallent, a son, Duane Tallent, and five siblings, Paul Hildebran, Joann Stephens, Virginia Foster, Emily Lowman and Nell Gehrke.

Surviving are her two sons, Steve Tallent and wife Julia of Vale, and Richard Tallent of Hickory. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren: Jacob Tallent and wife Katie, Whitney Joyce and husband Jake, Madison Carroll and husband Matt, Joshua Tallent, Delaney Tallent and Sam, Malia Nickens and husband Chris, Noah Tallent, Keraghan Bodde and husband Dylan, Chloe Martin and husband Jamison, Colvin Tallent and Abram Tallent, seven great-grandchildren: Brinkley, Alaina, Selleck, Phoenix, Samuel, Beckham, and Emma, with one more on the way, her four siblings, Lois Brittain, Robert Brittain, Bud Brittain and wife Shirley, Juanita Sigmon and husband Donnie, and beloved extended family, Wendy Tallent and Tina Tallent.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 3:00 P.M. at Wilkie’s Grove Baptist Church, with Rev. Thurman Roe and Rev. Chance Settle officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery, with military honors provided by the U.S. Air Force.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, from 2:00 until 3:00 P.M. at Wilkie’s Grove Baptist Church.

An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.heritagefuneralservices.com

Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory is assisting the Tallent family.