Sula Mae Turner Hillhouse, born December 23, 1932, in Decaturville Tn, at the age of 91 transitioned peacefully to her permanent home in heaven on July 12, 2024.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Roy Cecil Hillhouse, her parents, Benjamin Omer Turner and Rhoda Ray Turner, and three sisters, Nancy Alice Turner (died as an infant), Opal King (Lloyd) and June Holloway (Earl).
She leaves behind three daughters, Celia Murrah (Tom), Sherry Cox (Mark), and Crystal Clinton (Bill), 5 grandchildren, Matthew Perkins, Rachel Boehms (Brandon), Taylor Cox (Shannon), MacKenzie Morrison (Kevin) and John Clinton (Emily) and 1 great granddaughter, Shae Cox. She also leaves behind 3 nephews, Ricky King, James Earl Holloway, Eddie Holloway and many great nephews and nieces.
Sula and her family moved to Bemis when she was in 5th grade, and she graduated from JB Young High School where she was the star forward of the Bemis Kittens Basketball team. She and Cecil were married in 1951 and moved to north Jackson in 1956 and became charter members of Northside United Methodist Church. In 1971, they moved to Englewood Baptist Church where Sula sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and served on many committees. They were members of the ‘Dirty Dozen’, a group of 12 couples from the church who played card games monthly. As all the couple’s children grew up and some of the group began retirement, their gatherings moved to twice a month. This incredible group of friends played together, traveled together, prayed together, laughed together, played tricks on each other and supported one another through all life’s ups and downs. What incredible role models they were for their children, grandchildren, and to everyone they encountered.
Sula worked for Dr. George Dodson, Jr., Dr. Edward Crocker, Dr. Barnett Scott, Dr. Tom Edwards, and Dr Dean Curry as the Office Manager for Jackson Surgical Associates. After 35 years, she retired in 1992 and began taking water aerobics classes at the YMCA and delivering Meals on Wheels with Cecil each week. She also served at Rifa regularly and spent as much time as possible with her grandchildren. She and Cecil enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Australia, Canada, Alaska, New England and made many new friends along the way. Sula loved to write, and she loved genealogy. She wrote several books of short stories and poetry and won multiple awards from Main Street Publishing. She also wrote weekly newsletters that she shared with all the Meals on Wheels families. Many of those seniors looked forward to her newsletters as much as they did the meals. This was another avenue to share her faith in Christ.
In 2012 Cecil & Sula moved to Goodlettsville TN to be closer to their children. This allowed them the opportunity to be more involved in their grandchildren’s activities. They joined Centerpoint Baptist Church and were active there for several years getting involved in various mission projects. In 2019, they moved to the Hearth at Hendersonville, a senior living community. Sula was always ready to lend a helping hand to the staff and other residents. She loved any time Rick Applegate was singing and especially enjoyed the sightseeing bus rides. We are so appreciative of the caring staff who loved mom and supported us during this difficult time. While we will all miss mom, we are grateful to know her health has been restored in heaven, and we look forward to the day when we will all be together again.
A Celebration of Sula’s life service will be held on Sunday, July 21, 2024, in the chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors. The family will receive friends starting at 12:30 pm with the service beginning at 1:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to RIFA, 133 Airways Blvd., Jackson, TN 38301 or online at www.rifajackson.org.
Arrington Funeral Directors, 148 W. University Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305 731.668.31111
