Georgia Elizabeth Hill

Georgia Elizabeth Hearn Hill, born November 15, 1931, in Gum Springs, Clark County, Arkansas, was the firstborn child of the late Ben and Amie Opal Helms Hearn.

Georgia was the third “Georgia” in the family and namesake of her grandmother, Georgia Banks Helms, who was the midwife that delivered her. She was raised in the Richmond Hill Community, west of Arkadelphia, Ark. She grew up in a loving Christian home and was regularly active in the Richmond Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church. She attended Richmond Hill School and Peake High School.

She was united in holy matrimony to Javis Verlia “J.V.” Hill on June 10, 1951, and they shared a loving marriage for 51 years. He preceded her in death on September 5, 2002. Their first home was in Fort Smith, Ark., where J.V. was stationed at Camp Chaffee. They moved next to Witherspoon, Ark., then to Arkadelphia which was where the family home was later built in 1956. To this union were born four children: three daughters, Alveria, Barbara and Tammie, and one son, Stanley.

In the early years of their marriage and family life, Georgia and J.V. were members of St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Arkadelphia. Intrigued by a prayer meeting held across the street from her 20^th Street home, Georgia joined in the prayer meeting conducted by the “sanctified women.” She gave her heart and life fully to Jesus Christ and went on to influence her husband, her children and many other family members to do the same. The Hill family joined Tate Temple Church of God in Christ in Arkadelphia, where she remained a faithful member for 65 years. At Tate Temple, aspiring to live a life of sanctification and holiness, Georgia’s ongoing pursuit was of the “Spirit-filled” life. She served the Church as first president of the Young Women’s Christian Council (YWCC), as Church Secretary, on the Deacons’ Wives Circle, on the Hospitality Committee (which included providing overnight accommodations from time to time for the late Pastor and Mrs. O.N. Dennis and visiting evangelists) and was an active member of the Mothers’ Board.

Georgia was a homemaker during her children’s formative years, later working as an inspector for several years at Levi Strauss & Co. in Arkadelphia. After that, she again became a homemaker and “farm wife” to her husband.

Shopping and sewing were her passions apart from church activities. She loved hats and shoes, and cooking—especially her signature peach cobblers. J.V. and Georgia hosted many family reunions and gatherings, she also enjoyed traveling to visit relatives out of town when she could. Georgia also loved to share stories of times past and family histories. She was a contributing storyteller in a book called Stories of Survival: Arkansas Farmers during the Great Depression, authored by the late Dr. William Downs, Jr., Professor Emeritus at Ouachita Baptist University, and published in 2010. She served as first treasurer of the Richmond Hill Cemetery Preservation Association, as a member of the Peake High School Alumni Foundation, and was a lifetime member of the NAACP-Clark County, Ark. Chapter.

Mother Georgia Hill, as she was affectionately called, joined the Church Triumphant on Monday, May 3, 2021, in Little Rock, Ark., and is at rest.

Preceded in death by her parents, husband and one granddaughter, Kelley Elizabeth Hill. Mother Hill leaves to cherish many wonderful memories her four children, Alveria Lock and husband Larry of Las Vegas, Nev., Barbara Delacruz of Cherry Valley, Calif., Tammie Frank and husband Lonnie of Henderson, Nev., and Stanley Hill of Little Rock. Cherished also by her grandchildren, Courtney Lock and wife Teneka of Crestview, Fl., Candace Elizabeth Johnson and husband Michael of Las Vegas, Nev., Benjamin Lock and wife Courtney of Coppell, Tex., Devin Frank of Tustin, Calif., Aaron Frank and wife Alexis of Harrisburg, Penn., Lesley Hill of Seattle, Wash., Jonathan Hill and wife Elise of Springdale, Ark., Ashley Hill of Fayetteville, Ark.; and great-grandchildren Xavier and Xanai Lock, Dejiah Spates and Tyron Washington; Jourdin, Jada, Jasmyn and Charlotte Johnson; Joshua, London and Autumn Lock; Avery, Aliza and Audie Grace Frank. Other survivors include her brother, James Hearn and wife Gwendolyn, sister Pauline Johnson—all of Chicago, Ill., sisters Mildred Lloyd of South Gate, Calif., and Brenda McClain and husband Henry of Indio, Calif., and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be Monday, May 10, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. with services beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Dr. Lewis A. Shepherd, Jr., officiating and Superintendent LeRoy Williams, eulogist. The interment will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be George K. Biggs, Courtney D. Lock, Devin T. Frank, Benjamin M. Lock, Aaron J. Frank and Jonathan V. Hill.

Memorials may be made to the Tate Temple Church of God in Christ Building Fund, P.O. Box 193, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.

For the safety of all mask are asked to be worn and temperature screening requested.