Madalene Louise Hill

Madalene Hill Obituary

MADALENE LOUISE HILL, born in Rock Island, Texas on November 7th, 1913, Madalene Hill passed away on March 5, 2009 in Brenham, Texas. The oldest of 13 children, Madalene led a wonderful, adventurous life as a person who always " bloomed where she was planted." She married Jim Hill in 1950 and together they established Hilltop Herb Farm in Cleveland, Texas. The farm was a world-renowned haven of rare plants and wonderful food enjoyed by thousands of guests over the years. She moved to the International Festival-Institute at Round Top, Texas in 1993 where she established and volunteered as curator of the extensive gardens. Madalene served as National President of the Herb Society of American from 1986 1988 and received the Helen de Conway Medal of Honor. In 2007, she was honored with the Catherine H. Sweeney Award for extraordinary and dedicated efforts in the field of horticulture by the American Horticultural Society. The Knot Garden at the National Arboretum is dedicated to Jim and Madalene Hill. Madalene had two children, Jerry Cummins and Gwen Cummins Barclay. Preceded in death by her husband Jim in 1982 and her son Jerry Cummins in 1992, she is survived by her daughter, Gwen Barclay of Round Top, Texas and three generations of grandchildren. A Celebration of Madalene's Life will be held on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 2 PM in the Festival Hill Concert Hall. A reception will be held immediately following at Menke House. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gardens at Festival Hill, or to the Herb Society of America Library Kirtland, Ohio.

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Published by Houston Chronicle on Mar. 8, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Madalene Hill

8 Entries

Pat Crocker

March 31, 2009

Madalene touched so many with so little ease. She will live on in every leaf and petal at Round Top.

Marianne Dafoe

March 19, 2009

I was privileged to have Madalene at my home when she visited the Frankenmuth MId-Michigan Unit of The Herb Society. She was a gracious and wonderful person. We all learned so much from her. She was always eager to share her vast knowledge with all of us and she will be truly missed. My sympathy to her family, know that she will never be forgotten by all she touched.

Linda Shaw

March 16, 2009

I worked with Ms. Hill for 15 years at the Herb Farm in Cleveland. She is such a wonderful and knowlegable person who wanted to share her knowledge with the world. I loved to listen to her stories about the herb world. She tought me a great deal about herbs, food and people. She is one of the truley knowlegable people who wanted to share with the world and introduce them to her world of herbs. I will greatly miss her. The world needs more people like her who want to share. My sympathy to her daughter, Gwen and her GrandChildren: John, Kathy and Tom.

Connie Going

March 11, 2009

I
haven’t seen Madalene Hill in the last several years, but I
so well remember
meeting her for the first time in 1962 - and, then afterwards - from time
to time having many pleasant encounters with her. One of our first meetings
was when she arrived early one evening just before the first Country Antiques
Market Day at the Old Wells Store at Tarkington (also a Cleveland, Texas
satellite) with arms loads of fine smelling herbs from her nearby farm and
began hanging them about the old country store.

In my mind she was the
first show and tell person I had ever met. She greeted everyone with stories,
tidbits, and interesting facts about herbs as she invited & urged you
to taste, smell, and experience the plant. If you weren’t interest in herbs
when you met her, you were when you left.

God bless her and O’ for more
like Madalene Hill!

Nadine Hopper

March 11, 2009

I worked for Ms. Hill and learned so much as she was full of great knowledge and passed it on the everyone she touched. She was truly and colorful lady and will be greatly missed by all. My thoughts and prayers go out to Gwen and her family. May God bless them especially during this time.

Barbara Porsch

March 9, 2009

I was enriched by my opportunity to know Madalene from my visits to Mencke House and Winedale while attending all of Bill Welch's Oktober Gartenfests. Some of her favorites are thriving in my herb garden and I try to "grow where I have been planted" thanks to her influence.
Sincere condolences to Gwen.

Barbara Cameron

March 9, 2009

I was honored to work for Madalene Hill as secretary for 10 years + at the original Herb Farm.. I learned so much from her , we continued our friendship all these years and shared the same birthdate.. My sympathy to Gwen, Kathy,John and Tom

Paula Murphy

March 9, 2009

Madelene - it was an honor and a pleasure to know you through the Houston Culinary Guild. Thanks for sharing your wide breadth of knowledge and your sunny smile.

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