Friday, December 21, 2012 at Eleven O'clock in the morning, Big Bethel A.M.E. Church, 220 Auburn Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, Bishop James L. Davis, Officiating, Presiding Prelate, Ninth Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal Church, Ambassador Andrew J. Young, Eulogist, The Reverend Dr. Gregory V. Eason, Senior Pastor, Big Bethel A.M.E. Church

Jesse Hill, Jr. was born May 30, 1926 to Jesse Hill, Sr. and Nancy Dennis Martin in St. Louis, Missouri with business in his blood. As a child, Hill worked alongside his maternal grandfather, Major Dennis, owner of the Dennis Moving, Hauling and Used Furniture business, selling ice and watermelons during the summer, and wood and coal during the winter in the 1930s. His mother, Nancy Dennis Martin, was the driving force who pushed him and encouraged him to study diligently, work incredibly hard and achieve great things.

Hill arrived at the old train terminal in Atlanta in 1949 at the ripe old age of 23, having just completed a Bachelor of Science in Math and Physics from Lincoln University and a MBA in Actuarial Science from the University of Michigan. Atlanta would be Hill's life-long home, the place where he would make his mark as a businessman, humanitarian and civil rights and political strategist. He met his wife of 57 years, Azira Gonzalez in Big Bethel AME Church's Sunday School where he served as Sunday School Superintendent.

After arriving in Atlanta, Hill joined the staff ofAtlanta Life Insurance Company initially as an actuarial assistant. He rose steadily through the corporate ranks, and in 1973 became the Company's third President and first outside the Herndon family, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Executive Committee, positions he held for over 20 years.

During his tenure, Atlanta Life continued to experience dramatic growth and profitability. Moreover, under Hill's leadership, the Company quietly underwrote civil rights initiatives throughout the South, including providing bail money to release demonstrators arrested in sit-ins and other protests. In addition, Hill founded The Atlanta Inquirer, the weekly newspaper that became the voice of the civil rights movement in Atlanta.

Over the course of his career, Hill attained a long list of "door opening firsts" for Mrican Americans. Appointed the first chair of Atlanta's Metropolitan Area Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors, he also was the first Mrican American selected to serve on the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia. In 1977, he was elected president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the first Mrican American to hold such a position not only in Atlanta, but in any major U.S. city. He also was elected as the first black member of the Board of Directors of the Commerce Club, and was the first Mrican American recipient of the Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Progress and Service.

Hill's influence as a political leader in the city ofAtlanta has had perhaps the most lasting impact. Soon after his arrival, he quickly became acquainted with most of the key leaders of the city through the .Hungry Club. Located at the Butler Street YMCA, where Hill first resided in Atlanta, the Club provided the only forum at that time for black and white leaders to engage in serious dialogue on contemporary issues. Chair ofvirtually every major voter registration drive in the black community during the 1960s, Hill also founded and chaired the All Citizens Registration Committee, the precursor to a political organization that has since nurtured the careers of Atlanta's last four mayors.

A frequent advisor to Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr., he also served as campaign chairman for Mayor Maynard H. Jackson, elected in 1973 as the first Mrican American mayor of a major city in the South, and Andrew J. Young, the first Mrican American elected to Congress from Georgia and the South since Reconstruction. He also served Mayor Shirley C. Franklin, in a number ofcapacities, including the chairmanship of the Mayor's Task Force charged with honoring the late Ivan Allen Jr., and the late Maynard Holbrook Jackson.

Hill served the community in a number of key capacities. He served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-violent Social Change for over 15 years, and also chaired the local chapter of the NAACP. For over 25 years, Hill chaired the Board of Governors of the Opportunity Funding Corporation (OFC), a Washington, D. C.-based organization committed to promoting and facilitating the development of minority business enterprise.

Hill also served on the boards of a number of corporations including Comcast, Delta Air Lines, Knight-Ridder,

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Morse Shoes, National Service Industries, Rich's, S & H Corporation, and SunTrust, in many instances as the first minority member.

Acknowledged world-wide for his contributions, Hill received many distinguished national and international awards, and honorary degrees. He was awarded honorary doctorates from Atlanta University, Bethune Cookman College, Chun Ang University of Seoul Korea, Clark College, Lincoln University of Missouri, Morehouse Gollege, Morris Brown College and the University of Michigan, among others. His awards also include the Salute to Greatness Award (Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-violent Social Change) Business to Business Legend Award, Shining Light Award (Atlanta Gas Light and WSB Radio) the Robert Ross Johnson's Humanitarian Award (Buckhead Rotary Club), the Candle in the Dark Award (Morehouse College), and the John Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, Hill was inducted into the Trumpet Awards International Civil Rights Walk of Fame and the Butler Street YMCA's Legacy Circle.

Hill was a life-time member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and was counted as one of its notable members.
A loyal churchman, Hill was a faithful member of Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, serving on the Board ofTrustees, Stewardship and Finance Committee and the Board of Directors of Bethel Towers.
As much as Hill was a very gifted and impactful businessman, humanitarian, civil rights strategist and political strategist, Hill set the standard as a family man. He met his wife, the former Azira Gonzalez prior to serving in the Korean War and they continued their courtship via letters. After his return from Korea, Hill and Azira married in Azira's hometown of Holguin, Cuba and they began a wonderful life together. Hill and Azira had two daughters, Nancy Mercedes Hill Cooke and Azira Dominga Hill Kendall. Hill took great pride in his role and duties as a father, and it showed. He also took pride in his role as a father-in-law to Charles Fredric Cooke, III (Ricky) and Errol Kendall. Taking this role to the next level, Hill perfected the art of grandfathering and he rarely missed a basketball .game, school play, dance recital, honors banquet, football game, wrestling match, soccer game, piano recital, or graduation of his six grandchildren Charnan Jessica Cooke Scarborough, Jonathan Charles Cooke, Mark Oliver Kendall, John Robinson Kendall, Zachary Robinson Kendall and Michelle Alexandra Kendall. He made sure his grandchildren set high academic standards, learned to swim, were politically and socially conscious, and above all, very well loved and supported. Hill also enjoyed seeing his great-granddaughter, Rikki Joelle Scarborough. Hill maintained very close ties with his dear family in St. Louis including his sister Mertice Walton, niece Katrina Walton and great-nephews Anthony Condra and Brandon Condra.
Hill departed this life on Monday, December 17, 2012, but his lasting legacies of service, business, kindness, justice, and generosity will always remain.

He leaves to celebrate his life, his care giver, partner and wife - Azira Gonzalez; His Children; Nancy Hill Cooke and Azira Hill Kendall; His Son-In-Law, Errol Kendall; His Grandchildren, Charnan Jessica Cooke Scarborough, Jonathan Charles Cooke, Mark Oliver Kendall, John Robinson Kendall, Zachary Robinson Kendall and Michelle Alexandra Kendall; His Great-Grandchild, Rikki Joelle Scarborough; His Sister, Mertice Walton; His Niece, Katrina Walton; His Great Nephews, Anthony Condra, and Brandon Condra; His Sister-In-Law, Mercedes Feria; His Brother-In-Law, Manuel Feria and a Host of Other relatives and friends in the Bowden, Brown, Cole, Cooke, Cousin, Dean, Dennis, Feria, Flowers, Lewis, Hamilton, Hoover, House, Humphrey, Jackson, Mosley, Moten, Ramaz Gay, Russell, Scarborough, Speaks, Stiles, Stinson, Walston, Webb, Whitman, and Williams Families.

"Be such a man, and live such a life, that ifevery man were such as you, and every life a life like yours, this earth would be God's paradise. " ,., Phillip Brooks

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.......... .. ......................................................................................... . .................... Mr. Philip V Skerrett, Jr.
l .......... .. ............................................................................................................... Great is Thy Faithfulness
Great is 1hyfaithfulness, 0 God my Father,
7here is no shadow ofturning with 7hee;
7hou changest not, Thy compassions, they foil not
As 7hou hast been 7hou forever wilt be.
Refrain Great is 7hy faithfulness! Great is 7hy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed 7hy hand hath provided-
Great is 7hy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Refrain Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness
To 7hy greatfaithfulness, mercy and love.
Refrain Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, 7hy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hopefor tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
aise ................................................................................................................... Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Congregation standing)
Come thou fount ofevery blessing, Tune my heart to sing 7hy grace; Streams ofmercy never ceasing, Callfor songs ofloudest praise. And teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the Mount! 0 fix me on it,
Mount ofGod's redeeming love. Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by 'II?Y help I come; Oh, and I hope by Thy goodpleasure,
Safely to arrive at home. festtS, sought me when a stranger, Wondering/rom the fold ofGod, He, to save my soulfrom danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
0 to grace, how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be! Let that grace Lord, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to 7hee: Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God !love; Heres my heart, Lord, take and seal it, Seal itfor 7hy courts above.
Amen.

The Invocation .................................................................................................................. Bishop Preston W Williams, II Presiding Prelate Sixth Episcopal District AME Church

The Old Testament Lesson ....................................Micah 6:6-8 ............Mrs. Jessica Cooke Scarborough, Ms. Michelle Alexandra Kendall

The New Testament Lesson ....................................John 14:1-6...........................................The Reverend Dr. Gregory V Eason, Sr. Senior Pastor, Big BethelAME Church

The Epistle ...................................................II Timothy, 4:6-8 .......................................................The Reverend Darryl Porter



Senior Pastor, Mt. Zion AME Church) Kennesaw, Georgia

The Tribute in Music ..................................................................................................................Ave Maria, Bach/Gounod Ms. Chelsea Sharpe, Violinist
Ms. Suzanne Shull, Accompanist

The Prayer........................................................................................................................The Reverend Dr. Michael Stinson Senior Pastor, Bethel United Methodist Church) Atlanta

The Reflections ............................................. Mr. Herman Russell, Chairman, Concessions International, LLC/ H. J. Russell & Company

Mr. Felker Ward, Chairman & CEO Pinnacle Investment Advisors, LLC

Vernon Jordan, Esquire, Partner, Akin Gump Stauss Hauer & Feld, LLP

The Honorable Shirley FrankJ.in, Former Mayor, City ofAtlanta

Mr. Charles Moore, Steward, Big Bethel AME Church

The Acknowledgements.. .... .. .... . .. .. :... .. .. .. . .. .... ... .... ... ......... . ... ... ... . ....... ...... . ... ... .. .... .. ... .. ... .......Mrs. Jacquelyn Brown Marshall
The Reflections of a Godly Life.................................Psalm 1.................................................. .. .......................Mr. John Moten
The Ministry ofMusic.................................................................................. .. .... .. ................... The Big Bethel Music Ministry Glorious Is The Name ofjesus
The Eulogy............................................................................................................................Ambassador Andrew J. Young
The Organ Medley....................................................................................................................... Mr. Philip V Skerrett, Jr. I Come to the Garden Alone) Rock ofAges) and Must jesus Bear the Cross Alone
The Benediction............................................................................................................................. Bishop James L. Davis
The Recessional ............................................................................................................................Mr. Philip V Skerrett, Jr. Toccata from Symphony #5 Vidor

INTERMENT
South-View Cemetery 1990 Jonesboro Road, S.E.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30315

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THE ACTIVE PALLBEARERS

Mr. Anthony Condra Mr. Jonathan Cooke
Mr. John Kendall Mr. Mark Kendall

Mr. Zachary Kendall Mr. Michael Russell Mr. Jerome Russell Mr. James Scarborough

T H E H 0 N 0 RA RY PALL BEARE RS

lllta Chapter Lincoln University Big Bethel Board ofTrustees 3ig Bethel Board of Stewards 100 Black Men ofAtlanta a Chapter ,.., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Dr. Mohammad Bhuiyan
Mr. AI Cousins

Mr. Fletcher Coombs Mr. Manuel Feria Mr. Oliver Hudson
Reverend WL. Langley Mr. Herbert Linsey Mr. Preston Marshall Mr. Charles Moore

Mr. John Moten Mr. John B. Smith Mr. Philip Stiles Ambassador Charles Stith Reverend Dr. Michael Stinson Dr. Walter F. Young Reverend Maurice Wright

THE ACTIVE FLORAL BEARERS
The Big Bethel Women's Missionary Society Grady Nurses Alumni
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations are made to: The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Attn: Azira G. Hill Scholarship 1280 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30309 Or Big Bethel AME Church

Mrs. Azira G. Hill par excellent Mr. Antown Corleon Ms. Natasha Fowlkes Ms. Jamila Lasker Mr. Willie Lawson

CAREGIVERS
Dr. Monica Parker Ms. Wanda Roland Ms. Jacqueline Sims Ms. Michelle Sykes Ms. Kimberly Stenett, Social Worker

g Bethel AME Church Family
vof Atlanta Police Department
Hyatt Regency Atlanta Ms. Nancy Barrington and Mrs. Mohammad Bhuiyan Ms. Johnnie Booker

HEARTFELT THANKS
Mrs. Beulah Brown Mr. William Dendy Ms. Carole Hoover Mrs. Rachael Humphrey Rev. Ver~on Jones
Mr. Bill Ransom

Mrs. Louise Robinson Mr. Herman Russell
Kathryn Stanley Rev. and Mrs. Michael Stinson
Mrs. Karen Webster Parks Ms. Donna Williams

)f the Jesse Hill, Jr. wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the comforting messages, floral tributes, prayers, and other of love and sympathy during his illness and our time of bereavement. Your many expressions of sympathy and acts of ~ indelibly etched in our hearts and we remain eternally grateful. It is through your comfort that we have found strength. for continuing to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. May God's blessing be with you always!
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LoveAzira
2007