Born in Paris, Missouri, Hattie, sometimes Hallie, M. Tutt moved to central Iowa around 1930 to be with her spouse Rev. Jordan W. Tutt. She was active in Baptist Church activities across Iowa in previous locations including Sioux City where she lived and attended the Iowa/Minnesota/South Dakota district Sunday School Convention in 1924. She was named treasurer of the group in June of that year.

Tutt participated in community and church activities and continued statewide work. In 1934 she served as president of the Women’s Home and Foreign Missionary Society. It was noted Tutt was also re-elected as the president of the Iowa-Nebraska-South Dakota Negro Baptist Association. She additionally served as president of the Baptist National Convention and president of Iowa-NE-Minnesota Women’s Convention. Tutt travelled the state and region in these roles and also engaged in ecumenical activities. She died in Des Moines with services at Corinthian Baptist Church. Tutt is believed to be interred in Glendale Cemetery but no grave marker is present.