Mr. Kelly Mack Hill, Sr.

Mr. Kelly Mack Hill, Sr., was the fourth child of seven children born to Otis “Daddy Bill” and Roxanna Hill in Columbus, MS. Both parents, two brothers, Milton and Billy, and two sisters Marjorie and Dorothy, preceded him in death. The Hill family relocated to Missouri and lived on the Southside of St. Louis. Kelly received his formal education through the St. Louis public school system. He attended L’Ouverture Elementary, Vashon High School, and graduated from O’Fallon Technical High School.

On March 21, 1965, Mr. Kelly Mack Hill, Sr., was born again of God’s Holy Spirit at Rising Star M.B. Church under the leadership of the late Brother Son (the late Rev. Andrew Lee Smith) and was baptized in the Mississippi River on the fourth Sunday in August of the same year. Before his health failed and the current pandemic, Kelly was a dutiful member of Rising Star, serving on the Usher Board and singing with the Jubilee Male Chorus. He loved to sing and was an avid lover of various genres of music, especially Gospel. On July 12, 1964, Kelly united in Holy Matrimony with Barbara Jean Blount. To this union, four children were born: Kelly Jr., Charletta, Gloria, and Lillian. Fifty-six years of marriage have been celebrated since that day.

Mr. Kelly Mack Hill, Sr., was an owner and operator of the Hill Trucking Service, in which he owned three trucks and traveled through various states enjoying many scenic routes, especially the East Coast. As a young man, he worked with his father, “Daddy Bill,” in the family business, The Hill Brother’s Trash Company, but had a longing to be a long distance driver and fulfilled the desire once his children became adults until he had complications with his health. One statement he would say was: “Before I leave this earth, I’ll have a pocket full of money and grace.” 

Mr. Kelly Mack Hill, Sr., made a peaceful transition on Sunday, September 27, 2020, at 11:55 p.m., at St. Louis University Hospital, with his eldest daughter Charletta by his side. He leaves to cherish his memories; his wife, Barbara Jean Hill; four children, Kelly Jr., Charletta, and Lillian Hill and Gloria (Irvin) Love; six grandchildren, Michael, Zachery, and Kayla Blissit, Janaye’ and Jeremy Williams, and Kavon Hill; four great-grandchildren, Jersey, Zayden, and Zayniah Blissit and Nyemiah Robinson; two brothers, James Sr., and Fulton Hill; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; four sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; and life-long friends too many to name because he never met a stranger. We would be remiss if we failed to mention his childhood friend and brother in Christ, Brother Lamar Brew. Because of their friendship and the love his mother, Mrs. Bertha Brew, Kelly made his way to Rising Star M.B. Church, where his life was forever changed due to three little words: “Lord Have Mercy.”

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