Avice Lillian Pleasants

Avice Lillian (Hill) Pleasants passed away on Monday, November 21, 2022. She was the second of three daughters born to William Edward Hill and Mary Lucille (Evans) Hill, in Knoxville, Tennessee, on December 7, 1928.

Avice excelled during all 12 years of school, participating in Girl Scouts, band sponsors, National Honor Society, and graduating as salutatorian from Austin High School in 1946. She was active in church attending Sunday school and BTU. She also worked part-time at her Aunt Avice Lennon’s renowned, community pharmacy.

After high school Avice attended Hampton University, earning a B.S. in Business Education in 1950. While she was there, she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and sang in the school choir. It was there that she met the love of her life, Leo Pleasants. They were married in 1951, with Leo’s military career moving them many places, including Germany, England, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Texas.

After many years as a mother and US Army officer’s wife, Avice earned teacher certification in business education, elementary education and special education. She taught at Canutillo Elementary School in Canutillo, TX and then Loma Terrace Elementary School in Ysleta ISD, El Paso, TX, spending 25 years as a third-grade teacher. She faithfully sang in the choir at Scotsdale Baptist Church.

Avice served on numerous committees, held offices in teacher organizations and was active in the El Paso chapter of the Hampton Alumni Association. She then continued to serve in various capacities in the El Paso Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta for more than forty years.

Life moved the couple one more time- to San Antonio, TX. Here they enjoyed holiday celebrations, San Antonio culture, an occasional Spurs game, and the fruits of retirement.

Avice is survived by daughters Jeri (Don) Dean of Plano, TX, Marcia (David) Hearld of San Antonio, TX, Laura Pleasants of Chicago IL, son Leo Michael Pleasants (Veronica) of Mesquite, TX, 14 grandchildren, 7 great- grandchildren and a host of relatives, friends and colleagues. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, son John Edward Pleasants and her beloved husband of 68 years, Ltc. (ret) Leo Pleasants.

Visitation will be at St. John Baptist Church, 6800 Evers Road, San Antonio, Texas 78240 on Thursday, December 8, 2022 beginning at 11:00 A.M. with a funeral service at 12:00 P.M.

Avice will be laid to rest in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach, San Antonio, TX 78209.