Walter Henry Hill Jr.

Walter Henry Hill, Jr. departed this life on Christmas Morning, December 25, 2015 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Walter was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 10, 1953, the firstborn son to Mr. Walter H. Hill, Sr. and Dr. Mildred Anderson Hill-Lubin. When he was five years old, the family moved to Columbus, Georgia where Walter began his elementary education. He completed his elementary, middle school, and high school education in Augusta, Georgia.

He graduated from the Lucy C. Laney High School with honors. Walter spent his first year of higher education at the renowned Morehouse College in Atlanta. Although he did not finish his higher education at this renowned institution, he maintained a deep love for Morehouse College throughout his life. He later went on to receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Florida International University in Miami. Walter had an entrepreneurial spirit. His first position was as a salesclerk in the men’s department at the Old Maas Brothers in Gainesville, Florida, one of the first black-owned department store chains.

He later transferred to a South Florida store location. Thereafter, he moved his focus into the telecommunications and marketing fields. He worked at Bell South and AT&T telephone companies in a sales/marketing capacity before starting his own business, Optimal Markets Group, LLC. Optimal Markets Group was the parent company for most of his business endeavors, which included international device sales, marketing/sales consulting, fiber-optics sales and later investment and financial planning. Walter had a great sense of humor. On meeting him, his warm loving personality was immediately comforting. He had a knack for making people feel at ease even a complete stranger felt at home in his presence. Walter had a great depth of knowledge and was always ready to give helpful advice and guidance to anyone. He was a lover of the arts specifically music. He loved jazz and also helped to launch one of South Florida's first jazz radio stations.

Walter was also a proud Director of the Broward Art Guild in the 1990s. Walter loved living in South Florida. In 1980, he met the greatest love of his life, Dr. Madlene Sawyer in Miami. They were married on April 30, 1983. To this union a son, Miles Gordon was born. He lived a life of complete devotion to his wife and son. Walter is survived by his devoted, caring wife, Madlene, Fort Lauderdale/Nassau, Bahamas; his devoted, adoring son, Miles G. Sawyer-Hill and daughter-in-law Ashley Sawyer-Hill, Fort Lauderdale/Nassau. Bahamas; his loving and cherished mother, Dr. Mildred A. Hill-Lubin and a beloved brother, Robert T. Hill, Gainesville, Florida; one newly arrived grandson, Dalton Grey Sawyer-Hill, Fort Lauderdale/Nassau, Bahamas. His favorite three uncles and an aunt whom he grew up with will certainly miss him – Mr. Robert L. Anderson (Louise),Columbus, Georgia; Mr. Luther Anderson, Jr. (Carol), Gilbert, Arizona; Mr. Tommy Anderson, Midlothian, Virginia and Ms. Brenda Anderson, Charlotte, North Carolina. Two other aunts, Mrs. Christine Kennard, Columbia, Maryland; Mrs. Margaree Hill, Charlotte, North Carolina; a nephew, one niece and a host of cousins with fond memories survive him. In addition, many other relatives and friends will also miss Walter’s jovial companionship.

Numerous other relatives and friends, including Ingrid Cambridge, Kevin Cambridge and family, Tresa Cambridge, Alice Stuart and family. Grace Bomarito who faithfully loved and cared for him, Don Schneider, his roommate and friend and many others throughout the South Florida, the Bahamas and across the globe that were touched by his love. Funeral services for Walter Henry Hill, Jr. will be Saturday, January 2, 2016 in the Forest Lawn South Funeral Home in Fort Lauderdale at 11:30 am. The family will receive friends for the general viewing from 10:00-11:30 am. Interment will be in the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens South, Davie, Florida.