Celebration of Life service set for Mary Juliette Hill on Jan. 13

DECATUR, GA—Family and friends are remembering Mary Juliette Hill, who had three children associated with On Common Ground News. Mrs. Hill passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 2, after battling cancer for four years. She was 84.  

Mrs. Hill is the mother of Valerie J. Morgan and mother-in-law of Glenn L. Morgan, co-publishers of On Common Ground News. Her sons, Athaniel(Nate) and Richard Hill, both worked in advertising for On Common Ground News for many years.  

Glenn Morgan said the family is saddened by their mom’s passing, but the outpouring of support from so many in the community has helped ease a lot of the pain.  

“We can’t thank everyone enough for the FB posts, the calls, texts and the visits,” said Glenn Morgan.

Glenn said he broke the news to Valerie about Mrs. Hill’s sudden death. He received the call while he and Valerie were attending Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony for the elected officials of the City of Stonecrest. 

“Valerie crumbled. We were shocked. Mom had undergone chemotherapy, came home and had dinner. Shortly after dinner, Nate found her unresponsive in her bedroom when he went to give her the phone to speak with Richard, who was calling to check on her,” Glenn Morgan said. “The whole family was shocked. She had been so upbeat, never giving up.”  

Mrs. Hill was loved by many people in the community, including those at the East DeKalb Senior Center at Bruce Street in Lithonia, where she was a member, and by the congregation of the Moreland Avenue Church of Christ, where she was a long-time, faithful member.  

“Mama Hill,” as she was fondly called, was a mother to many in the community, always opening her home for holiday dinners and helping everyone that she could with whatever she could, Valerie Morgan said.   

“The healing has been tough. My mother’s passion was people and poetry. If we took her anywhere, she instantly made friends. She was always smiling. She published hundreds of poems, essays and two children’s books,” said Valerie Morgan. “I spent the Christmas holidays typing the new book that she planned to publish. She had beautiful handwriting and I will cherish all of her cursive, handwritten pieces. I was planning to present the document to her for her birthday, Jan. 6. We are all going to truly miss her.”

Richard Hill said that his mother looked forward to enjoying each day—even on the days that she felt tired. December was filled with many activities and celebrations, including her great-granddaughter, Luna’s 8^th birthday on Dec. 26, Hill said. 

“Mom was excited for the family to go out to dinner together on Christmas Dinner. She pinned some money on Luna’s shirt and enjoyed hearing what Luna got for Christmas. She also had a great time seeing The Color Purple, attending the Stepp Stewart holiday show and going to her best friend’s birthday party and she definitely enjoyed shopping,” said Richard. “She lived life to the fullest that she could.”  

The Celebration of Life service for Mary Juliette Hill will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13, 11 a.m.,  at Moreland Avenue Church of Christ, 671 Moreland Ave.S.E., Atlanta.  The viewing will be held on Friday, Jan. 12, from noon to 8 p.m., at Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Homes a  the 4347 Flat Shoals Road local, Decatur.  

Photo: Juliette Hill celebrating Valentine’s Day 2023 at the East DeKalb Senior Center at Bruce Street in Lithonia. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan