Jerry Hill

Jerry Mills Hill, age 73, passed away February 11, 2025 in a snorkeling accident in Curacao. Jerry was born in Pasadena, and graduated from UC Santa Barbara and Fuller Theological Seminary (1979) before moving to the East Coast. He worked in a mental health hospital in Richmond, Virginia before settling in Greenville, South Carolina where he had a full career in ministry and social services before retiring (2017) to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

He loved gardening so much that he cultivated his own worm bed and compost, and delighted in sharing his harvest. He was an avid fisherman as evidenced by a garage full of fishing tackle for all seasons and reasons. He was the best of cooks, and owned every spice and sauce available in the market. He was an avid reader and was not happy unless he was reading six books simultaneously with another stack of books sitting on his bedside table to be read. He loved to sing and whistle and couldn’t resist making music throughout the day–you heard Jerry before you saw him. But the greatest passion of Jerry’s life was people. He lived to embody God‘s love and mercy, especially to those who were less fortunate or marginalized. There was no limit to Jerry’s love and compassion for others.

In Greenville, Jerry ran the Alston Wilkes Society halfway house for formerly incarcerated men and helped establish a similar home for women. He worked with the SC Department of Mental Health, providing outreach and essential services to homeless mentally ill persons while also pastoring two African-American United Methodist congregations, St. John and St. Luke. He was pastor of Dunean United Methodist Church, the first reconciling UMC congregation in SC. He finished his career as Minister of Missions and Outreach at Buncombe Street United Methodist Church where he led numerous mission teams to Mississippi, Mexico, the Bahamas, Haiti, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and the Carolinas.

He was instrumental in establishing numerous nonprofit organizations and was a founding board member of the Triune Mercy Center, Greenville Homeless Coalition, the Community Food Bank of the Piedmont, Circles and the Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network. He served on the board for Zoe Empowers during a pivotal period of transition and growth. The SC Senate commended his community service in 2017.

He retired to the beach and became integral to the missions and youth work at Avondale United Methodist Church, served as precinct chair for the local Democratic Party, participated in Moms Demand Action and joined in activism to further social justice. He was an ally for the LGBTQ+ community.

His friendships were deep and based on mutual respect and boundless love and acceptance.

Jerry was the son of John Terry Hill, Alla Mills Hill and Eleanor Sanders Hill, all deceased. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Melanie Cash Hill, and children Jay Thomas Hill, married to Kelsey Wilson, (of Atlantic Beach), Roger Baker Hill (of Ponte Vedra Beach) and Alla Marie Hill (of Nashville), and one grandson, Aiden Thomas Hill. He is survived by a brother Roger Hill, married to Ruth Hill, and two sisters, Cheryl Wilson and Phyllis L'Hommedieu, married to Bob L'Hommedieu, and nine nieces and nephews.

The funeral service at noon on March 1 will be live-streamed by Avondale United Methodist Church @ aumcjax.org. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Zoe Empowers: https://zoeempowers.org/, Bread for the World https://www.bread.org/ or Avondale UMC http://www.aumcjax.org/ in his memory.

Please RSVP for the events listed below using this link: https://forms.gle/pJ9oc6JTeohzjz9B7

Celebration of Life and Visitation from 5:00 - 8:00pm EST on Friday February 28, 2025 at Palm Valley Outdoors Bar & Grill, 377 S. Roscoe Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082. Beer, Wine and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Funeral Service at 12pm EST on Saturday March 1, 2025 at Avondale United Methodist Church, 1651 Talbot Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32205. Rev. Clare Chance will be officiating. (Nursery available during the service.)

Community BBQ Meal and Open Mic Sharing following the service on Saturday March 1, 2025 at Avondale United Methodist Church Social Hall and Patio.

Family Style Brunch for Out-Of-Town Guests at 11:00am EST on Sunday March 2, 2025 at Valley Smoke Restaurant, 11 S. Roscoe Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach.

Remembrances may be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to 144 Crosscove Circle, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.

Please upload your photos and videos of Jerry to this Google Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nd2R69v6CLSmJaD29