Robert Raymond Hill, Sr.

A service of worship celebrating the life of Robert Raymond Hill, Sr., age 87, will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 15 at Shandon Presbyterian Church, 607 Woodrow Street, Columbia, SC. The family will receive friends in Davis Hall immediately following the service.

Mr. Hill died to this life on October 9, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on April 19, 1936 in Spartanburg, South Carolina to the late Rev. Denny Monte Hill and Frances Elizabeth McComb Hill.

Robert was known affectionately as Bob, Bobby, Dad, GBob, and Coach. He dedicated his life to his wife, Jewell, as well as to his family and the service of others. Bob’s life was rooted in his Christian faith and the Presbyterian College motto: Dum Vivimus Servimus (While We Live, We Serve). Becoming an Eagle Scout was an early indicator of Bob’s life of service. Throughout his life, he modeled love and giving through service to his church, country, state, those in need, family, and friends.

Bob earned his bachelor of science degree in biology from Presbyterian College in 1958 and a master’s degree in science education from the University of Georgia in 1963.

Bob, a lifelong Presbyterian, served in many churches over the years as a Deacon, Elder, Sunday School teacher and active volunteer. Bob served his country as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves for a combined 30 years of active duty and reserve service. He was a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Bob served his state through his decades in public education. He was a high school football and girls’ basketball coach, a high school principal, Deputy State Superintendent of Education for South Carolina, and Executive Secretary of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Bob served Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum as her Transition Director and then as Chief of Staff. He also was the Chief Operating Officer of the Psaras Foundation.

After retirement, Bob served people experiencing homelessness. He was instrumental in creating a winter shelter in Columbia that provided food and a warm place to sleep to those without a home. He played a pivotal role in forming Transitions, an organization that helps people stabilize their lives and transition out of homelessness. Bob’s final act of service was the donation of his body to the USC School of Medicine.

Bob’s greatest loves were his wife, Jewell, and the family that they built together. Bob and Jewell were married for 62 years. They raised three children and were blessed with seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Bob loved spending time with his grandchildren and paid special attention to their individual interests. He enjoyed large family gatherings with his three sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

Bob was a friend to many. He loved fishing and spending time with Larry and Edna Ellis, laughing with his former football player and friend Pat Towery, and traveling with Hugh and Frances Betchman. He also deeply loved his college friends, including Jim Newsome and John Knox, whom he considered his brothers.

Bob received numerous recognitions for his leadership and service. A proud “Blue Hose”, Bob enjoyed his years on the Presbyterian College Board of Trustees and received the Presbyterian College Outstanding Alumni Service Award and an honorary Doctorate of Public Service. He also received The Order of Palmetto in recognition of his life of service to the state of South Carolina, was a recipient of the Ethel M. Bolden Community Service Award from the Columbia Urban League, and was named to the Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame.

Bob is survived by his wife, Jewell Powell Hill. His children: Laura Hill Twitty (Chris) of Columbia, Robert Raymond Hill, Jr. (Carol) of Columbia, and Lynn Hill Ringley (Ron) of Fort Mill. His grandchildren: Charles Grayson Hill (Caroline) of Columbia; Robert Haynes Hill (Mary Katharine) of Atlanta; Mary Curtis McCleod Twitty, Elizabethann Bethea Twitty, and Christopher Hendrix Twitty of Columbia; Jackson Powell Ringley of New Haven, CT; Julia Elizabeth Ringley of Fort Mill. His great-grandchildren: Charles Eston Hill and Robert Hudson Hill. His siblings Lynda Hall (Charlie) of Charlotte, NC, and Frances Dennie Roe (Pete) of Greenville, and his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Rebekah Walter.

Memorials may be made to Shandon Presbyterian Church, 607 Woodrow Street, Columbia, SC 29205 or the Robert R. Hill, Sr. Memorial Fund at either Presbyterian College or Transitions. Presbyterian College, 503 South Broad Street Clinton, SC (Presby.Edu); Transitions, 2025 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 https://transitionssc.networkforgood.com/projects/206609-robert-r-hill-sr-memorial-fund

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Still Hopes, Solutions for Living at Home, Heart of Hospice, Dr. Julie Kurek, and all the physicians, friends, and special caregivers who supported Bob.

The service will be livestreamed at ShandonPresbyterian.org