Vada Marie Hill

Mrs. Vada Marie DePriest Hill “Bonnie, Nana & Nannie” was the oldest child born to her parents the late Jack and Mary Arlene Armstrong DePriest on June 7, 1936, in Madison County, Tennessee. She heeded God’s call and peacefully crossed over to be with Him on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Jackson Madison County General Hospital.

She professed a hope in Christ at an early age and became a member of the Cane Creek Baptist Church. After moving to Jackson, she united with the Salem Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend L.S. Briggs. She loved “her church” and was active in the Missionary Society, Matrons, Youth Fellowship Leader, Women’s and Pioneer’s Choirs. 

She attended Tennessee’s Oldest Rosenwald School in Bemis, Tennessee. 

Mrs. Hill was united in holy matrimony on January 1, 1955 to the love of her life and soul mate, the late Mr. William L. Hill, Sr. From this union four children were born. 

Although she received a modest education, she loved to take care of her family and others. She worked to keep her family together through many Family Reunions. Nana loved to travel to see her family and especially those grandchildren. She was a great cook, baker, listener, comforter and homemaker. She was employed at the Bemis Mill as a production worker for 10 years. She had a beautiful smile, a caring heart and a gentleness that eased your fears. That gentleness was displayed in how she never raised her voice, even with four children (3 of them boys). 

After her illness, she learned to view and worship with several congregations via online streaming. She was a strong woman who fought her illness with tenacity. It was an awesome day when she was able to enter the House of Worship again on Mother’s Day 2023. 

Mrs. Hill was preceded in dearth by her parents, her husband, her son(David) a grandson, a great-granddaughter, four sisters and four brothers.

Nana leaves to cherish her memory: a daughter, Verlene Hill Scott (Rudolph); sons, Billy Ray Hill (Evelyn) and Pastor William L. Hill, Jr. (Debra) all of Jackson, Tennessee; four brothers, Dewey (Lou Vada) of Pinson, Tennessee, Richard (Brenda), Readie (Janice) and Raymond all of Jackson, Tennessee; an aunt, Gracie Armstrong Utley; two sisters-in-laws, Mary Hill Key, Jackson, Tennessee and Dorothy Hill Clemente, Smyrna, Delaware; thirteen grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and good friends. 

 “You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived”