Larry Hill, Sr

Funeral services for Larry Noel Hill, Sr. (69) will be held 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at the First Baptist Church of Baldwin with Rev. Chris Drum officiating. The interment will immediately follow in Brandy Branch Cemetery, Bryceville, Florida. Mr. Hill was born on July 14, 1942 in Jacksonville, Florida, son of the late Jesse Clayton Hill and the former Jessie Mae Crosby. He passed away on June 15, 2012 following a brief illness. In addition to his wife of 46 years, Lula Reynolds Hill, survivors include: daughter, Christy (Steve) Stafford; brother, Jesse Clayton Hill, Jr. (Sharon); brother-in-law, Bobby Keen; six grandchildren; numerous extended family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by: son, Larry Noel Hill, Jr.; two sisters, Kitty Crews (L.D.) and JoLynn Keen; mother-in-law, Lillian "GiGi" Reynolds.
Larry was proud to say he was "born and raised in Baldwin" and always lived within a two mile radius of his birth. He graduated from Baldwin High School in the Class of '61. Larry was extremely proud of his accomplishments in High School athletics, especially football, holding the Baldwin Indians Football Touchdown record. School memories and friends have always been special to him. He loved sports and coached Little League Baseball and Pop Warner Football teams in Baldwin for several years. He announced Baldwin High School football games for many years and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. He served our country in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.
He had been a supervisor with Southern Wood Preserving Company before going to work for Seaboard Coastline Railroad, now CSX. He retired from CSX after thirty-two years of service and enjoyed every second of his retirement.
He loved hunting and fishing, could never turn down a "fishing trip" until he began having health problems, but he could tell those "fish stories". Many people have referred to his "story telling" and have commented on how much they enjoyed listening to his stories.
Larry never met a stranger, always "practicing his social skills". He would stop and talk with anyone and they would become instant friends, never forgetting the person and their conversation. By the way, among all those waiting to greet him were Boo and GiGi. Wonder who got the last word in - him or GiGi?
Larry was a member of the First Baptist Church of Maxville and had served as a Deacon. He loved to sit and read his Bible, studying God's word.
His heart belonged to his grandchildren: Destiny Noelle and Taylor Larissa Hill, Tyler Alexander, Jeffery Tanner and Haley Alaina Stafford and Josh Butler, Destiny's fiancé©. There were two very special people in his life that he considered and loved like a daughter and son, Steve and Christy Stafford, never looking at them in any other way in his life.
Larry was blessed to have a close and loving family, nieces and nephews were like sons and daughters, cousins were like brothers and sisters and brother and sister-in-laws were like brothers and sisters, to all of you we love and thank you for your support.
There is no way to name or list all his "special" friends and neighbors, to those I extent my thanks for all you have done in his life, especially during the time he needed you the most.