James D. Hill Sr., a longtime resident of Bay Minette, died Thursday, April 29, 2010.
He was a retired English professor at Faulkner State Community College.
He graduated Pensacola High School then went on to serve his country in the U.S. Air Force. He holds the Doctoral of Education degree from the University of Alabama and the Bachelor of Art and Master of Education degrees from Livingston State Teacher's College, now University of West Alabama.
He was a published author of poems and short stories, winning many awards over the years, including the Silver and Golden Poet Awards. He said many a time that he owed much to both UA and LU for his many successes in writing.
From 1970-1975, he held several administration jobs, including directing Alabama's first Teacher Corps program, serving as Asst. Superintendent of Education in Troy and coordinating and operating branch programs for Troy State. All in all, he devoted 33 years to teaching English in Alabama schools.
He and his wife, Scherryl were proud volunteers with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Civil Air Patrol, as well as devoted Ham Radio Operators. He will be dearly missed by many.
He looked up to and always admired his late, older brother Pete, a retired Marine in California. Although his brother lived too far away, his sisters always visited a couple times a month — no doubt the neighbors would hear music and constant giggling, like children all afternoon.
He inherited his love of music from his departed parents, William and Margaret. Amazingly his entire family could/can play any instrument just by watching and listening. In fact, his son, David and David’s recently departed mother, Rush played professionally for many years in Tuscaloosa.
Rush Hill Hoggle was a former high school teacher in Mobile and Saraland and a high school teacher and band director at Brookwood, Gordo, and Huntsville.
A special mention goes to his Livingston college buddy, fellow creative writer, and rascally best friend, Nigel Hampton, retired professor in Michigan. “Anyone who ever met him will immediately recall Jim’s impish smile, his ever-present sense of humor, and his gentle soul,” Hampton said. “Jim’s humor was spontaneous and rich, but never cruel. Most often it was laced with self-depreciation — and always it was just plain funny. His humor — and his warm personality — were formed by his love of language. Jim’s nature was joyful and his love of language was an outpouring of an amazing imagination. If any gloomy clouds ever appeared in Jim's life, I didn't know it. Somehow his gentle soul made its journey through life with never a care and no judgment, leaving only a shining memory of a model for friendship.”
Survivors include his wife, Scherryl Hill of Bay Minette; step-daughter, Scherryl Lukers Sherrill, teacher at Tate High, Pensacola, Fla.; son, James D. (Cindi) Hill Jr. of Tuscaloosa; five grandchildren, son David’s two children and granddaughter, Britney, her daughter Jaci Lyn Foley, and third generation, James D. “Trey” Hill III all of Tuscaloosa; his late daughter Elizabeth Hill Golden “Libby” Montz’s three children, Tony and Jessica Golden of Bay Minette and Natalie Montz of Tuscaloosa; two sisters, Betty McNeely of Pensacola Beach, Fla., and Elena Thomley of Seminole; many other distant relatives too numerous to name.
In order to help scientists/doctors research, teach, and hopefully find cures, he was a full body donor to SAAB, the State of Alabama Anatomical Board at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, therefore, there will be no services or funeral.
The family requests memorial donations be made to The Cancer Society, in honor of his beloved daughter Libby, who lost her battle with Breast and Brain cancer in 2007 and to consider joining SAAB’s “Anatomical Gifts Program” at the University of South Alabama.
