Vivian Beatrice Hill

Obituary For Vivian Beatrice Hill

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her worth is far above rubies…Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing. But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:10-30

A century plus of living is a very long time, but that is just what Vivian Beatrice Hester Hill did. She LIVED! She delighted the earth with her entrance on October 20, 1914. The third of six children born to Daniel and Barbara Hester in Lowndes County, Georgia, Vivian learned early on that the farm life, which her siblings took to so easily, was not for her. She craved further education, and with a gut load of tenacity, did what she needed to do to graduate from high school.

While she longed for a college education, it was financially out of reach for her parents back then. So she chartered her own path and migrated to the North, in hopes of better opportunities. She relocated to the great state of Michigan, settling down in Detroit where she lived with cousins who had settled there earlier. Vivian found employment as a maid, working in White households as she worked her way through cosmetology school.

While in Detroit, she met and married Millous Hill. They shared a wonderful life together for 27 years and adopted one son, Ronald Cornelius Hill (both preceded her in death). Vivian was not one to languish. She joined St. Paul AME Church, where she served for many years as an usher, on the Birthday Club, Georgia Club, Crafts Club, Friendly Bridges Club, and the Traveling Ten Club. These affiliations gave her a very full life, and her travel portfolio includes many other U.S. states, Canada, and other countries in Europe and the Caribbean. She lived a rewarding life in Detroit for 47 years — enjoying time spent with her sister, Odessa and her son, LeRoy. During her last years in Detroit, she was an interior design instructor for Wayne County Community College.

After deciding to retire, Vivian relocated to the family property in Lowndes County. She re-joined Mount Vienna AME Church, where she faithfully served as a Trustee and on the Usher Board. It was here, in the serenity of her birth place, that she surrounded herself in her final years with the memories of her parents and siblings who had preceded her in death.

She enjoyed sharing the Hester family history to all who would lend an ear, and she especially enjoyed sharing the mile-stones and achievements of her three grandchildren — Raymond Hill (Dominique), who preceded her in death, Renaldo Hill (Tanaya) and Tonya Lee. Vivian was the fabulous “Aunt Bea” to her family and community.

She kept herself encouraged by reading and studying the Bible, and by watching Jeopardy and Family Feud (and she particularly enjoyed watching Steve Harvey because she “just liked the way that man dressed!”). From the struggling times of the Great Depression, to witnessing America’s first African-American President, Barack Obama, Vivian remained politically aware of the plight of her people. Even on her bed of affliction, she made sure she cast her Democratic absentee ballot for this current election!

As her health failed in recent years, she was blessed to have nearby family at her beck and call, including her nephew, Calvin Marshall, Sr. (now deceased) and his sons, and her niece, Cassandra Murray, who dutifully “took her orders.” She will always be remembered as the tall, articulate, spunky, arts & crafts queen who had no problem speaking her mind! Vivian gained her wings to glory on October 22, 2020.

She leaves a host of great and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends to cherish her memory. And oh, what a memory it will be!

The family sincerely thanks all the home healthcare workers who took care of our loved one over the years, as well as the staff at Pruitt Health - Crestwood for their attentive care. Thank you to the Mount Vienna AME Church family and the Management and Staff of Stevens Funeral Home for your dedicated service.

The celebration of life for Mrs. Vivian Hill will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. at the Mt. Vienna A.M.E. Church Cemetery. Pastor Robert Angrish, officiating.

Public viewing will be held Wednesday, October 28, 2020 from 2:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Due to COVID-19, Stevens Funeral Home will be enforcing social distancing and following the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. We ask that anyone entering the building and attending any funeral events to please wear a mask.

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