The Live is Christ, To Die is Gain

"For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ,

which is far better."

Paul knew that it was better - far better, to be with Christ. I was reading a novel (one of

many) as we spent the last few months beside and with my daddy as he struggled with

cancer. I read this line just a few days before he died -

"I've thought about death a lot during the years I've walked the earth in disquiet.

I've thought about what it will be like to transcent space and time. And I've come to the

conclusion that the apostle Paul was right when he says it's far better to be with Christ.

If only we didn't have to die to get there."

And how right she (the author) is. While the death was an ugly thing, the passing is over

and peace has begun. His memory will live in our hearts and minds forever. And his stories

will be handed down for generations to come (should the Lord tarry).

Jessie Eugene (Gene) Hill
HILL, JESSIE EUGENE (GENE) passed away on January 3rd, 2009 at his home in Pelham, AL. Gene Hill was born to the late Ruth Gilliland and Jessie Hill on February 14, 1927 in Trenton, GA and grew up in Stevenson and Scottsboro, AL, His stepfather, Grady Steadmon, also played an important role in his life. His brothers are all deceased. He is survived by his beloved wife of forty-nine years, Annette Hill; two sons, Robert Eugene Hill, and Stephen Bruce Hill; two daughters, Christina Lynn Brock (Duane), and Patricia Annette Price (Stephen); ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Gene Hill served proudly in both the United States Navy and Army in WWII and Korea and participated in the Bikini Atoll Atomic Bomb tests. He worked for Genuine Parts Co. (NAPA) before going into business for himself as a Chevron station owner and operator. He will be greatly missed as a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church of Hoover. The extraordinary life he led and elaborate stories he told will keep his memory alive in our hearts forever. Funeral will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 11:00 am in the Chapel of Ridout's Elmwood Chapel. Dr. Randy Adkinson and Dr. Earl Tew officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior. Burial will take place at Elmwood Cemetery with Ridout's Elmwood Chapel directing.

(Amy wrote. She wanted to add "Gene Hill went to different schools

together with Davy Crockett and tragically lost his finger

to a bear in an accident later in life" (because that is what

he told all his kids and grandkids - plus many more such nonsense

stories.) (He actually shot his finger at the Japanese in WWII when he didn't get

it out of the way in time while loading a big shell in one of the huge guns on a ship to

fire. Hurts to think about doesn't it? He didn't get a purple heart for it either!)

We would, as children, often go to mother and ask her, "Did daddy really....???" and she'd

laugh and we'd know it was another story. He later repeated all the stories to OUR

children and we'd smile. And they would come to us and ask.

Amy was nearly grown though before she figured out our cars WOULD run on

something besides Chevron gasoline LOL. (Okay, I kept that one alive. I still try

to use Chevron most of time. Habits are hard to break.).

(quotes from "The Church Ladies" by Lisa E. Samson, Multnomah publishing, page 117)