It is with deep sadness we announce that Grant Sanders Hill has not survived a family hunting accident and went home to be with the Lord. Grant Hill was born January 29, 1995, to Bradley Dean and Stacey Sanders Hill, and was a life-long resident of Huntsville, Alabama. He grew up in Blossomwood where he attended Huntsville Middle and Huntsville High School.
Grant is survived by his parents; brothers, Brian Claude Hill (Leigh Ann) of Pittsburg, IL, and Hunter Dean Hill (fiancé, Bailey Marie Simmons) of Huntsville; grandparents, Gene Wendall and Elizabeth Jane Sanders of Huntsville, and Harold Dean and Phyllis Ann Hill of Marion, IL; nephews/nieces, Claire Ann Hill and Luke William Hill of Pittsburg, IL; uncle, Donald Gene (Terra Lynn) Hill of Creal Springs, IL; cousins, Lauren Nicole Hill, Eli Cayd Hill and Raziel Greyson Hill of Creal Springs IL, and Kyle Frye of Indianapolis, Indiana; uncle, Jeffrey Lee (Erica Ann) Sanders of Ft. Walton, FL; cousin, Ashley Sanders (Nathan) Howell of La Vergne, TN; cousins, Clay Marshall Sanders and Brooke Elizabeth Sanders of Ft. Walton, FL; great-great aunt, Mary Elizabeth Wallace; great-aunt, Janice Harris Sanders, great-aunt, Brenda Wall (Larry) of Marion, IL; great-uncle, Robert (Mary Ann) Bush of Marion IL, great-uncle, Danny (Jeannie) Bush of Marion IL; and many loving family members and friends. He was preceded in death by great-grandparents, Paul and Vinnie Bush and Claude and Geneva Hill of Marion IL, and John and Alane Sanders of Huntsville, great-great-uncles, Roy Wallace and Ronald Lee Sanders, and cousin, Katelyn Krumery.
Football Career: Grant attended Huntsville High School from 2010-2013 where he was a consensus ESPN, USA TODAY, 24/7, and RIVALS High School Football All-American and twice Alabama All-State Football player. He played in the 2013 Under Armor All-American Football game where he was awarded best offensive lineman. He was recognized by Alabama.com as the All-Decade Alabama High School Football Team. Grant played football offensive line at the University of Alabama from 2013-2015 where he received awards for most improved offensive lineman and received ESPN Pre-Season All-American, and SEC Championship awards. Grant was a technician at his trade and his was the best when he competed at all levels of athletics, always giving credit to those who played around him.
Track and Field Career: Grant was ranked in both the world and nationally as a Track and Field Discus Thrower, setting national records in both USATF, AAU, and multiple age class records. He still owns the Alabama All-Time Discus Record of 203-7 feet established in 2013 when he was Gatorade Alabama Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Grant was a USMILESPLIT and ELITE YOUTH Track and Field All-American for six years.
Academics: Grant was extremely bright and excelled at academics, attaining close to a 4.0 GPA on his graduate college degree. He published several Psychology graduate program research papers on counseling and response therapy for young adults.
Family Life: A gentle giant, standing 6 feet 7 inches, his love for others, compassion for those athletes struggling with mental illness, and willingness to always put himself last was one of a kind. He loved the Lord Jesus Chris with all his heart and used the Bible as a guide of truth. Grant always put himself last and never understood the athletics accolades received during his football and track and field career. He turned down multiple invitations to USATF Olympics Training, IAAF Championships, and Pan American Games to focus on family and his dream of establishing a young adult and athletics counseling center.
Grant had a passion for the outdoors, spending many trips with family at hunting/fishing retreats in Illinois and Arkansas. His favorite activities included cooking (especially BBQ), duck and deer hunting, playing guitar, extensive gun collections, and spending time in the mountains in cold weather. Grant Hill passed doing what he loved best, spending time with his family and being a servant to those around him during outdoor expeditions. He always started a meal with a prayer and always said “I Love You” to those keeping close company with him.
Vision: Grant graduated from University of Alabama in 2021 with a Masters’ Degree in Psychology. He was working toward a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a dream of establishing a counseling center to help gave his testimony to young adults and athletes struggling with depression, addiction, or trauma. His vision and conviction for the counseling center was to provide healing, purpose, and peace for others. His greatest compassion was to help athletes competing at the highest levels, be provided a direction in their lives after a sports career.
Young Adult and Athletic Counseling Center: We are committed to Grant’s dream of a Young Adult and Athletic Counseling Center to help those struggling with mental health and giving purpose to their lives. Grant will be sadly missed by his family, to know him was to love him, he impacted many people, and his legacy and dreams will live on through the Hill Family Foundation. Memorial Funds can be contributed at visitation and a Grant Hill Memorial Fund website page will be established to provide online contributions.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. followed by a 5 p.m. service on Sunday, November 14 at Willowbrook Baptist Church, 7625 Bailey Cove Road, Huntsville, Alabama 35802.
Memorials may be made to the “Hill Family Foundation Benefitting the Grant Hill Memorial Fund”, PO BOX 2891, Huntsville, AL 35804.
