JAMES THOMAS HILL Sr.

Family-Placed Obituary

JAMES THOMAS HILL, Sr. "JT" James Thomas "JT" Hill, Sr. was born July 31, 1931 in Kissimmee, FL, to the late Rev. John Franklin Hill and Ella Bertha Robinson Hill. JT grew up in Lakeland, FL where he attended Washington Park Junior High School. He then moved to Belle Glade, FL and graduated from Everglades Vocational High School. James furthered his education at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, where he lettered in football and golf. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1957. JT earned his Master's degree in Education from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. He also served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. James was a Lifetime member of Florida A & M University National Alumni Association and member of the Polk County Chapter, Lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and City of Bartow Citizen Advisory Committee Board Member. He was a dedicated member of St. James AME Church, having served as a trustee, class leader and choir member. James was employed by the Polk County School Board where he taught at Bridges Avenue Elementary, and Lena Vista Elementary School Auburndale, where he received Teacher of the Year Award and later served as an attendance assistant until he retired. James was the first and only "Mr. FAMU" alumni, a prestigious honor awarded to him by Florida A&M National Alumni Association. He also was the recipient of the Florida A&M Distinguished Alumni Award. JT received every honor that the FAMU Polk County Alumni Chapter presented. He is survived by devoted and dedicated sons, James T. Hill, Jr. and Harry Williams (Carolyn); daughter, Cynthia Hill of Arizona; wife, Catherine Hill of Bartow, FL; sister, Cleopatra Jackson (Edward) of Boynton Beach, FL; adopted brother, James Daniel Brown of Acworth, GA; sisters-in-law, Annie Pearl Hill of Belle Glade, FL Mary Ruth Hill of Lakeland, FL, Lureathea Walker of Sebring, FL, Mary Rogers (Archie), and Garnell D. Carter of Bartow, FL; brothers-in-law, Willie Carter of Bartow FL, Auban Curtis Carter (Adeline) of Lakeland, FL, and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Vitiation will be held on Friday, June 8, 2012 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM and Funeral services Saturday, June 9, 2012 11:00 AM at St James AME Church, Bartow, FL. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Florida A&M Alumni Association Polk County Chapter in Mr. JT Hill's name. Contact Mrs. Doris Hicks email: Dhicks721@verizon.net To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries