Richard Thomas Hill

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Richard T. Hill, 88, of Columbia, Tenn., passed away Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia. An Arkansas native who devoted most of his working life to bettering the lives of children, Richard was the son of Pete and Oma Hill of Fort Smith, Ark., and graduated from Ouachita Baptist University and then earned a Master’s in Social Work from Louisiana State University.

Following more than three decades as a leader in the field of children and family services in his home state, he and his wife Carol Roberts Hill moved to Columbia to retire amid the beauty of southern Middle Tennessee that he quickly grew to appreciate from a front porch rocking chair. He and Carol had been married for 59 years.

Visitation with the family will be 1-3 p.m., Tuesday, January 14, at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home in Columbia with a Celebration of Life service to follow immediately. Officiating will be the Rev. Marty Shadoan and Anthony Kimbrough.

As Executive Director of the Pulaski County Guidance Center, he oversaw a merger with the Elizabeth Mitchell Children’s Center in 1970, and eventually was the driving force behind other mergers that transformed that one small center for troubled children into one of the largest non-profit organizations in Arkansas. The Centers for Youth and Families of which he was CEO/President is still serving the emotional and social needs of children today. His final professional tenure serving children was a three-year stint as Director of Mental Health Services for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Aside from many professional designations and awards, he was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow as a Rotary Club member.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two siblings, Marshall Hill and Margaret Mansell.

Survivors include his wife and two daughters, Michele (Anthony) Kimbrough of Columbia and Heather Thomason of Mayflower, Ark.; six grandchildren, McKayla (Joel) Haler of New Castle, Ind.; McKenzie (Jackson) Lindley of Maryville, Tenn.; Kaylee (Joey) Peden of Prairie Grove, Ark.; Amanda (Bryan) LaRue of Little Rock, Ark.; Nicole Thomason of Little Rock; and Nick Thomason of Conway, Ark.; and five great-grandchildren.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Columbia.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Centers for Youth and Families in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.