James R. "Jimmy" Hill

It was a hot day August 28, 1932, but to much joy born to the late Robert Johnson Hill and Valeria Amanda Herndon Hill was their 3rd son of 4 boys. James (Jimmy) Riley Hill. The adventures of those 4 boys were a story all on its on. Playing in the ditches, making their own zip lines, to mother telling them to get the chickens back in their fence, to her finding them lined up at the clothes line with a string and a worm!

Jimmy went to school like all kids did, but enjoyed their days off in the fall only to find themselves in the cotton field picking cotton. Jimmy went on to Jackson High and fell in love playing football, only to be transferred his senior year to North Side High but didn’t have enough credits to finish, that was okay.. another year to play football. With 4 years of high school football, then was unheard. Jimmy enjoyed making touchdowns on Friday nights. It all ended well because he met his high school sweetheart there Maggie Nell Turner... the star high school basketball player. She waited for him to finish school and they married September 28, 1952 at the home of her parents the late CA Turner and Lena Syrena Pruitt Turner. Then they set out to make a life of their own.

Jimmy started farming with his brother in law Jack Turner. As time grew, he loved farming. He had sheep, cattle, pigs, honey bees and farmed over 500 acres. In 1956 on April 4th, their first child was born Shirley Jane Hill and then on December 3rd 1960 their second daughter was born Syrena Suzanne Hill. Among having children he still farmed. Then in 1963 Jimmy Hill was named Tennessee’s Farmer of the Year at the age of 33. Jimmy was also Vice President of Madison County Farm Bureau, along with being a member of the Young Farmers and Homemakers, Madison County Livestock Association and Tennessee Livestock Association. In 1963 Jackson Jaycees named Jimmy Young Man of the Year. Then in 1964 Jimmy was named Outstanding Young Farmers of America. After several years of farming, he went on to join his father the late Robert J Hill and Jerry Dean Hill in Rebel Construction company of Jackson Tennessee. Nothing was ever to small or to big to conquer, they got it done. They were tearing down burned buildings in downtown Jackson to setting sewage treatment plants or setting the Pringles Steamstacks, or digging ditches for waterlines for Jackson Utility Division.

In 1970, Jimmy Hill and Chief Kelly Holmes of Madison County Fire Department gathered several members of the Fairview community to bring fire protection to the north end of Madison county. With help of donations, fish frys and yard sales the community was able to maintain a building for the fire trucks. After several years the community got their new fire station on the heart of the community. It stills stands as Madison County Volunteer Fire Station #6, and Jimmy went on to serve his community and Madison County as Captain for 46 years.

As this community continued to grow the city to the north, Humboldt threatened to annex the community. Several members were set to fight the annexation to stand hard and hold the line. Jimmy Hill too was there for that fight as well and they did succeed. The community decided to incorporate the area and become a town. It would be called Three Way because you can go 3 directions from their community North, South or East. When the state wrote in a new legislation for small towns, Three Way was able to form its small town. The first elected Mayor was Jimmy Hill and he went on to serve proudly for 16 years. In those 16 years Jimmy held stead fast to the tax payers funds so that when it was time to build the town they could do it without financial assistance. They first built a maintenance facility to contain the mowers and other equipment for the city. Then Jimmy’s pride and joy was the city park Pine Hill Park. Where the community could gather and enjoy nature at its best and it is beautiful.

Between these days of farming, construction, Captain of the fire department and Mayor, he was also Vice President of the community center aka Fairview Hunting and Sportsman building. Where countless of gallons of stew was cooked on Labor Day for several years, so they would have funds to maintain the building. Yep you guessed it, he served as the official taster of the stew for over 50 years!

The greatest joy of his was family, friends and his love of his Christian faith and his church. Antioch Baptist Church of Humboldt Tennessee. Jimmy served in several different capacities for the church, Sunday school teacher, Sunday school director and others. But his greatest admiration was his record for 27 consecutive years of never missing a Sunday, that’s how much he loved his Savior and his church and was a member for 79 years.

Among all this too was the fishing, hunting, square dancing, flying his airplane, rebuilding some equipment or a airplane or two. He was much loved by family and many friends. He will be missed.

Jimmy is proceeded in death by his parents, late Robert Johnson Hill, Valeria Amanda Herndon Hill. His late wife Maggie Nell Turner Hill, his 3 brothers, the late Robert Lee Hill, William Houston Hill and Jerry Dean Hill.

Jimmy is survived by his daughters Shirley Jane Hill, Syrena Suzanne Hill Jackson, James Brandon Hill ( Laurin Baird and two boys Jayden and Brady). Granddaughter Syrena Amanda Jackson Rodgers and 2 great grandchildren Aiden Cole Rodgers and Ansley Neveah Rodgers, several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will receive friends and loved ones on Monday, February 8, 2021 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the North Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons. An escorted procession will leave the funeral home for Ridgecrest Cemetery where a graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Dr. Bill Espey will officiate the service.

Pallbearers: Brandon Hill, Jack Joyner, Jimmy Joyner, Aiden Rodgers, Jayden Baird, Brady Baird.

Honorary Pallbearers: Joe Joyner, Johnny Hill, Steve Lewis, Tom Herndon, Charles Herndon, Phillip Herndon