Roy Lee Hill

Roy Lee Hill, age 79, of Cornelia, passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2026, after a long battle with COPD.

Born on November 7, 1946, in Habersham County, he was the son of the late Lamar and Ruth Dover Hill.  Mr. Hill was a 1964 graduate of North Habersham High School where he received an award for perfect attendance all 12 years. He was a dedicated husband, father, pop pop, and friend. He retired following a career with Stork Gamco, later acquired by Marel in 2008, as a service technician where he worked on the road for 29 years until 2012. He served the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, April 13,1966 through April 12,1969, where he received a commendation medal for saving an airman’s life. “Airman Third Class Roy L. Hill distinguished himself by outstanding achievement at K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan, on 1 June 1966. On that date, he was instrumental in saving the life of a fellow airman. A flash gasoline fire occurred while the airman was performing maintenance on an A-2 demineralized water truck and he was completely engulfed in flames. With complete disregard for his own safety, Airman Hill extinguished the flames and saved the airman from serious injury and possible death. The distinctive accomplishments of Airman Third Class Hill reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.” He resided in Dagsboro, Delaware with his family for 33 years before returning to Habersham County in 2008.

He is preceded in death most recently by his loving wife of 48 years, Patricia Payne Hill; sister, Diane Stover; and sister in law, Dorothy “Dot” Hill.

Survivors include his daughters and sons-in-law, Ginger and Richard McGinnis of Russellville, Alabama, Joni and Merrill Mitchell of Colorado City, Texas, and Sonya and Brian Frable of Ocean View, Delaware; grandchildren, Justin Lowe of Georgetown, Delaware, Cameron McGinnis of Florence, Alabama, Lanee Mitchell of Colorado City, Texas, Victoria McGinnis of Florence, Alabama, and Ryker Frable of Ocean View, Delaware; brother, Frank Hill of Mt. Airy; brother in law, David Stover of Clarkesville; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Deborah and Ray Campbell of Cornelia; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services are 1 pm on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & McEntire, with Pastor Dicky McGinnis, Pastor Brian Frable and Pastor Merrill Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow in Yonah Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the Grant Reeves Veteran's Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends from 12 noon until the service hour on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the following: Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place • Memphis, TN 38105 or at https://www.stjude.org; Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 223 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 350, Chicago, IL 60606 or at https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org. 

An online guest registry is available for the Hill family at www.mcgaheegriffinandmcentire.com.

McGahee-Griffin & McEntire Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706-778-8668), is in charge of arrangements.