Maurice Hill

MAURICE HILL Tupelo - Maurice Hill, 91, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Thursday, July 16, 2015, at the North Mississippi Medical Center after an extended illness. A native of Commerce, Texas, he was born on September 24, 1923, to Leonard and Lorene Cummings Hill and was a resident of Tupelo since 1987. He was a graduate of Fulton High School and Mississippi State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Maurice earned his graduate degree in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Alabama. He was a former Assistant Director of the University Hospital, served twenty-four years as Administrator of Tippah County Hospital and Nursing Home in Ripley, and retired as Administrator of Whitfield State Hospital in 1987. He was a member of Rotary Clubs of Booneville, Ripley, Jackson, and Tupelo for thirty-eight years. Maurice was a former member and Vice-Chairman of the Blue Mountain College Board of Trustees, former member Board of Governors Mississippi Hospital Association, former member Newcomen Society of North America and former member Board of Directors Mississippi Economic Council. He was also a former member Executive Board Yocona Area Boy Scouts of America, recipient Silver Beaver Award Boy Scouts of America, former member Advisory committee Mississippi Medicaid Commission, former member Adjunct Faculty University of Mississippi School of Health Care Administration, and member Quarter Century Executive Forum, Mississippi Hospital Association. Maurice was listed in Who's Who in the South and Southwest. He was involved in many hospital organizations in the state and many Tippah County volunteer organizations. He was past president of Mended Hearts, Chapter 97 and was past Chaplain of the Good Samaritan Camping Club. Maurice was a 32 Degree and York Rite Mason. Maurice was a member of the Tupelo First Baptist Church where he served as Sunday school teacher and deacon. At First Baptist Church in Ripley he served as Chairman of Deacons, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday school teacher and Lay speaker. Services celebrating Maurice's life will be 3 p.m., Sunday, July 19, 2015, in The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Gayle Alexander and Rev. Ricky Young officiating. Private family graveside services will follow in Saltillo Cemetery. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Mary Lillian McCombs Hill of Tupelo; two sons, Maury Hill of Tupelo and Tom Hill (Sandra) of Germantown, Tennessee; two sisters, Kitty Brewer of Tupelo and Joyce Young of Tuscumbia, Alabama; one sister-in-law, Zoetta Hill of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; two brothers-in-law, Lewis Frazier, Jr. of Saltillo and Neal Dorroh of Tupelo; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Louise Hill, Carolyn Frazier, and Eileen Dorroh; and one brother, Frank Hill. Pallbearers will be Judge John A. Gregory, E. J. Gregory, III, Jack McFerrin, Larry Roberts, Bob Hanson, Bill Ledbetter, Jimmy Byrd, Ross Loftin, Don Carter, Jimmy Floyd, Gerald Wages, Dr. John Bowlin, and Billy Grady. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Kenneth Harvey, Dr. James C. Johnson, Jr., Evans Whittle, George Mason, Earl Brown, Bobby Martin, Mike Harrison, Jerry Green, Mike Guyton, Jack Gregory, Jr., Larry Graves, Jim Donald, Jon Maynard, and members of the Dr. John Bowlin's Sunday School Class of Tupelo First Baptist Church. Visitation will be 5 until 7 p.m., Saturday, July 18, 2015, at W. E. Pegues, Tupelo and continued one hour prior to services Sunday. Memorials may be made in his honor to Tupelo First Baptist Church, 300 N. Church St., Tupelo, MS 38804, or a Church or charity of givers choice. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com