Bryson F. Hill, Jr. – Obituary

by Lynn McMillen
0 comment

Bryson F. Hill, Jr. was born on July 22, 1933 to Bryson F. & Lula Askins Hill, Sr. in Hazel Green AL. Our dad’s mother passed away on November 28, 1933, and at the request of her sister he was raised by his aunt, Sallie Askins Walker and her husband Tom, their two daughters Pauline Walker Smith and Nelda Walker McKinney.

He was a Christian, having been baptized in the Calvary Baptist Church in Toney. Daddy always said that Dewey Carter was the contributing person that helped him make the decision of allowing Christ to be his savior. Mr. Carter was his Sunday school teacher. Later in his life he became a member of Murphy Hill Baptist Church.

He was a graduate of Hazel Green High School class 1951, of which he was president of the class and he maintained many friendships from his time at Hazel Green. After graduation he joined the Navy in December 1951. When he finished basic training he was stationed in Key West, Florida. During a visit home on October 25, 1952, he married his high school sweetheart Freda Winkler; they were married 32 years until her death in May of 1984. They had three children, Judy, Joni and Bryson III. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in December 1955 they moved back to the Huntsville area where he went to work for Liberty National Life. He had the spirit of an entrepreneur, always searching for different ways to make income. Leaving Liberty National, he became involved in real estate at a time when Redstone Arsenal activity started a housing boom in Huntsville. He was involved in developing several different neighborhoods. In 1968 he came in contact with Mr. Art Deason, who owned several nursing home facilities, and from there he became a developer and an operator of nursing home facilities. He partnered with Hugh Guthrie in the early 70’s and they developed, owned and operated 58 facilities in multiple states until 2002. In 1977 he was elected as president of the Alabama Nursing Home Association. Even in his retirement he maintained his friendship with Hugh and they conversed frequently and still had the desire to “put something together”. It was only fitting that the last place he resided was at Windsor House, of which he and Hugh bought from Crestwood Hospital and developed into a nursing home.

Our dad not only had an entrepreneurial spirit but he wanted everyone he worked with to achieve success; he helped many people start their own business, and he helped pay for many college degrees. He was a very giving person, sometimes to his own detriment.

He was preceded in death by: his wife, Freda Winkler Hill, his parents, Bryson F. Hill, Sr. & Lula Askins Hill, brothers, James Hill, Wm. “Bill” Hill, and sisters, Lucille Hill Shockley, and Ruth Hill Stafford.

He is survived by his children: Judy Hill Monroe (Sonny), Joni Hill Hall (Edward), and Bryson Hill, III (Cindy); his sister: Era Jane Hill Campbell;12 grandchildren: Mark & Heather Hall, Jolie & Chris Guillebeau, Jenica & Billy Kelley, Tera & Wes Wages, Jon Hall & Courtney Sparks, Jamie & Kayla Monroe, Jaclyn Monroe, Jody Monroe, Joy Caitlin Monroe, Jill Monroe, Anna Hill, and Katie Hill; nine great-grandchildren: Skyler Hall, Levi Hall, Sophia Hall, Lauren Kelley, William Kelley, Olive Wages, Walter Wages, Jonathon Hall, Abbott Wages and one due in April.

We would like to thank the staff at Windsor House for their care and concern for our dad while he was a resident, also Dr. Marcia Cheseboro, & the UAB medical staff, Beverly Cox, Administrator, and Cindy Monroe in assisting us all the way through.

Private funeral service was held at Laughlin Service Funeral Home on Saturday November 4, 2017 with a private burial at Charity Cemetery with Rev. Keith Lorick officiating.

Daddy, we hope “the meeting went well.”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Related Posts

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.