Lela Camp Hill

Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life ~ Nichiren Lela Camp was born on June 25, 1937 to the late Gladys Jones and Frank Camp, Sr., in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the youngest girl of eight children. As a child, she spent her formative years attending the South End School. As a high school graduate of St. Bartholomew Catholic School, Lela started her own family, with marriage and children, and eventually a working career with various employment, to include Ottenheimer's and Teletype Corporation, later known as AT&T. She retired from AT&T in the early 80's. Long before retirement, she lived a full life, as she held down those jobs and raised her children, as a single mother when necessary, demonstrating strength, courage and determination. She was determined at that point, although later in life, to learn to drive, so she bought her first car, a flaming yellow Nova, In the midst of it all, she decided to attend Shorter College, as her desire was to be a teacher. She later fulfilled that dream of teaching, as she found fulfillment teaching students of all ages to play the piano. She made sure that each student mastered the classical piece, “Fur Elise”. One of the highlights of her life happened on March 15, 1979, when she married Henry E. Hill. After he became a licensed and ordained minister, she joined him as he pastored AME churches throughout the state of Arkansas. These were joyous and blissful years for Lela and Reverend Hill, which included another dream, learning to play the piano, and, as mentioned, later teaching. They completed their career of ministry and became members of St. Mark Baptist Church. Reverend Hill preceded her in death December 12, 2001, after which she enjoyed a brief stay in Sacramento, California, something she had longed to experience. Lela embraced Christian views and values in a way that excluded no one and that is affirming and loving of all people. As such, her life was filled with positive thoughts and affirmations of the omnipresence and goodness of God in all. Lela’s life radiated love, peace, tranquility, and joy, but she was never one to put her head in the sand, and she was quick to call a spade a spade, and always ready to help those who were less fortunate that she was. Lela lived a life that was enriched with her talents: teaching and playing piano, interior decorating, writing, and most of all, devotion to her family. Her surroundings were opulent and beautiful, and she would find a way to create beauty everywhere she went. In June of 2017 Lela began an extended stay in skilled nursing, where she was loved, and a favorite because of her wit and her spicy and bubbly personality. She departed this life in hospice care, surrounded by family. Unfortunately, in the early 80's Lela suffered a painful loss of her youngest son, Marquis; and she is now survived by two daughters: Rhonda Key Youngblood (Jeanne) of Sacramento, California; Phyllisa McKey of Alexander, Arkansas; one son, Wendell McKey, seven grandchildren: Brittany Brooks, Bianca Youngblood, Michael Youngblood, Marquis Youngblood, Ruby Youngblood, Wendell McKey, (Jr.), Janiya McKey, and Jalen Hilliard; and two great-granddaughters: Wynter Bradley and Willow Barnett, two sisters: Ada Mason and Lottie Gilmore, as well as three sisters-in-law: Winnie Camp, Pearl Camp, Bettye Camp; and a host of relatives and friends.