HELEN WILLIAMS HILL

Helen Williams Hill died Thursday, October 31, in Lakeland, Florida at 89 due to cardiac arrest. On October 24, 1924, in Geneva, Alabama, Sanford and Sallie Williams welcomed their second daughter into the world and named her Sallie Helen. Little Helen grew up in Noma, Florida, and graduated from high school in Bonifay. At 21, she worked in Jacksonville as a cashier, meeting a young sailor. Two weeks later, Helen became the bride of Anthony Dyer Hill. Tony and Helen spent the next 67 years building a marriage of love and lasting loyalty. As a young Navy wife, Helen relished traveling. In 1950, Tony reported for duty in Puerto Rico, where their older son John was born. In Huntsville, Helen gave birth to their second son, Robert, in 1952. Helen was a Cub Scout den mother, a sixth-grade teacher, and an excellent cook. She served in the Altar Guild at Holy Nativity Church and sewed for her mother, nieces, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Helen was the unofficial Family Historian, telling and retelling stories of days gone by. Her older son John preceded her in death in 2012. Helen is survived by her loving husband Tony; John's wife Hiroko and their children: Josh; Laurel and husband Hajime and son Dan; Naomi and husband Dai and daughters Sallie and Sarah; her younger son Robert and his wife Susan and their son Stephen and wife Natalie; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 8 in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends on Friday from 9 – 10 a.m. prior to the service. A graveside service will be held 2 p.m. on Friday at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida.

Wilson Funeral Home