James Walter (JW) Hill Sr.
James Walter (JW) Hill Sr. was the eighth child of 11 children born of the late Genora Hill Sr. and Mamie Burks Hill, of rural Hinds County.
He graduated from Rosa A. Temple High in Vicksburg in 1959. After graduating from Alcorn in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education, JW married his homegirl and college sweetheart, Savannah Burns, on Aug. 11, 1963.
The couple moved to Monticello in 1964 where JW accepted an ag teacher position at McCullough High School. He later received his master’s degree in education from Tuskegee University and advanced specialist degrees in administration after completing studies at the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State University. JW later moved up to become the Title XX director of Lawrence County, assistant superintendent of education of Lawrence County Schools, personnel and transportation director of Lawrence County Schools, and director of Lawrence’s County Technology & Vocational Career Center. He retired with over 42 years of service to education.
JW was a member of the Monticello First Baptist Church, where over the past several decades he has served as deacon chairman, financial secretary, adult Sunday school teacher and senior choir leader. Known for his faith in God, JW repeatedly would tell his children and grandchildren, “Trust God in all that you do. Lean not to your own understanding and He will direct your paths”.
Family has always been a main pillar in JW’s life. In 1980, he started the Hill Family Reunion, which is a biennial reunion for the descendants of Adolphus and Fannie Hill. Whether it was providing prayer, words of wisdom, career opportunities, or financial support, JW has always supported family. Full of compassion, there’s no one he would not help if able. Ask any niece, nephew, or cousin and they can share at least one example of how Uncle JW, or Sonny, helped them. Savannah and Latrice often teased him and called him “Kris Kositchek,” a character from the daytime soap opera show “Days of Our Lives.” Kris was a character who was always popping up everywhere to offer his help, even if not asked for. He loved helping people. He dutifully served years as a legal guardian and caretaker for the late Lillie Jefferson, Larry Joe Daughtry, and to his sisters, the late Thenora Hill Beard and Doris Hill Anderson.
JW became the first black elected alderman in the Town of Monticello, where he served for 12 years and held the position as vice president of Mississippi Elected Official Association.
Service to community and mankind was part of JW’s DNA. A few of the organizations he served faithfully include: member of Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. Fraternity; past area director, State of Mississippi, Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. Fraternity; founding member, Lawrence County Educational & Recreational Association; lifetime member, former first vice president, NAACP; executive director/Family Selection Committee chair, Lawrence County Habitat for Humanity; member, Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce; lifetime member, Alcorn State University National Alumni; former president, Monticello Alcorn State University Alumni Chapter; former treasurer, Alcorn State University National Alumni Executive Board member, Magnolia State Vocational/Agricultural Association; member, Mississippi Association of Educators; member, Lawrence County Teachers Association; member, Parent Teacher Association (PTA); member, Mississippi Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council; member, Cystic Fibrosis organization; board member, Deposit Guaranty Bank Advisory Board; board member, AmSouth Bank Advisory Board; chairman of board, Family Health Care Clinics (Pearl); board member, Five County Child Development; past worshipful master, Monticello Lodge No. 348; past district worthy patron, District IV O.E.S. Maurice F. Lucas Sr. Grand Chapter; former patron, Williams-Hill O.E.S. Chapter No. 504; and past grand officer, M.W. Stringer Grand Lodge.
Over the years, JW received hundreds of awards and recognitions. There are too many to list. Of course, none compare to the heavenly reward he will receive for his service to our Father. A few notable accomplishments include: Presidential Citation, Distinguished Alumni Award, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education; Mississippi Senate Resolution No. 19, House Resolution No. 73, Senate Concurrent No. 590; Alcorn State University Hall of Honor; Alcorn State University Golden Alumnae; Alcorn State University Agriculture Hall of Fame; Alcornite of the Year, Alcorn State National Alumni Association; Matt Thomas Service Award, Alcorn State University National Alumni Chapter; Vocational Ag Teacher of the Year, Magnolia Agriculture Teachers Association; National Superior Chapter Award, National FFA; Lifetime Achievement in Education, Lawrence County School Board Proclamation; Outstanding Service Awards (Alcorn/NAACP/Monticello Lodge No. 348/Collins Consistory No. 190); Political Award (NAACP); Educational Award (NAACP); Area Director’s Award, State of Mississippi, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.; Man of the Year Award, Mu Pi Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.; Family Health Care Leadership Award; Outstanding Leadership Award, Williams Chapter No. 452, Order of Eastern Star; Humanitarian Award, Bathsheba Grand Chapter OES-PHA; Outstanding Performance Award, Five County Child Development Headstart; Dedicated Service Award, ITPA Youth Program; E.M. Graham Award of Excellence (Chamber of Commerce); Governor’s Citation: Mississippi Voter Awareness/Education Committee, Elections Division; Hill Family Reunion Award; and Burks Family Reunion Legacy Award.
JW leaves behind to cherish priceless memories, his loving and devoted wife and best friend, Savannah B. Hill; son, James Walter Hill Jr., of Monticello; daughter, Javannah Latrice Hill, of Alexandria, Va.; granddaughter, Jannah (Dewayne) Mayes, of Hattiesburg; grandsons, Jordan Moore, of Alexandria, Va.; James Sherrod Hill, of Hattiesburg; and Walter Rashad Hill, of Jayess; one sister, Doris Hill Anderson, of Vicksburg; six sisters-in-law, Jannie B. Hill, of Buffalo, N.Y.; Eunice W. Hill, of Muskegon Heights, Mich.; Katie B. Caston, of Detroit, Mich.; Nellie B. Moseley and Delores Neal, of Chicago, Ill.; Mary Helen Hall, of Vicksburg; three brothers-in-law, Richard (Lula) Burns Jr.; Willie H. Burns, of Detroit, Mich.; and Joseph (Barbara) Burns, of Vicksburg; a special godson, Joe D. Bryant, of Alexandria, Va.; special nephews, Charles E. Hill Jr., of Chicago, Ill., and Adrian DeShawn Hall, of Vicksburg; special nieces, Alice Ramona Hill, of Mableton, Ga., and Anitra D. Hall Nichols, of Vicksburg; two special cousins, John “Buddy” Kelly, of Gulfport, and Anita “Little Sister” Jackson, of Chicago, Ill.; 60 nieces and nephews and their spouses, over 98 great-nieces and nephews and their spouses and children; and a huge host of cousins from the Burks, Hill, Stewart, Allen, Kelly, Knox families, as well as his extended Burns and Parson families.
Funeral services for Mr. Hill will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 11, at the Ardis T. Williams Sr. Auditorium in Vicksburg. Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home of Vicksburg is in charge of the arrangements.
