August 14, 1914 – September 24, 2005
Henry Augustus Hill was born on August 14, 1914 in Champaign, Illinois to Anna Morris Hill and Henry Allen Hill. To this union, one brother, George, and two sisters, Ann and Celestine, were also born and preceded him in death.
Hank, as he was referred to by his family and friends, attended the Simmons and Marshall elementary schools in St. Louis and graduated from Sumner High School in 1934. At Sumner, Henry was called “Hank Hill from The Ville,” because of his love for The Ville neighborhood. He later opened the first black-owned convenience and liquor store there.
Hank enjoyed life to the fullest. He loved jazz music and liked throwing parties and cooking for his family and friends. He especially liked cooking for family and friends at Bucks Barber Shop.
After attending Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, Hank taught adult education and manual arts in St. Louis. He joined the U.S. Army in 1942 and later worked in the small arms bullet plant. He worked as a carpenter for the City of Saint Louis and as a construction foreman with the Alberici Company, where he retired in 1982.
Above all, Hank became a member of Antioch Baptist Church in 1924 at 10 years old. He sang in the choir and later with the Legend Singers under the direction of Kenneth Billups. He taught Sunday School for many years at Antioch. Also, Hank appeared in the Municipal Opera production of Show Boat.
Hank departed this life early Saturday morning, September 24, 2005. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Rose Hill; his stepchildren, Debra Hill Glover, William Jones, Jr., and Arlene Alillups; 7 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; 4 nieces, Gloria, Olivia, Doris and Emma; 5 nephews, Emmett, Marvin, Meryl, George and Michael; and many other relatives and friends, especially his longtime friend, Al Thomas.