Margaret Hill
November 13, 1931 - December 6, 2020
Margaret Hill, born Margaret Augusta Emery, age 89, of Townsend, DE, passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2020, in Christiana Hospital, Christiana, DE.
Margaret, a long-term resident of Connellsville, PA and Northern VA, was born to William and Emma (Stanton) Emery on November 13, 1931 in New Haven, CT. She lived in and around the town of New Haven for most of her childhood and graduated from Commercial High School.
Margaret was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1959 where she served as a publisher in the New Haven congregation for 4 years. After her first husband’s death, she married Roy Hill in 1963 of New Castle, PA, and thereafter moved to Connellsville where they began to raise a blended family of 5 children, Brenda & Booker Johnson, Tony, Ivan, and Roy Hill, Jr.
After both Margaret and Roy were able to retire from their secular employers, they were able to participate in the pioneer service for the congregation. This assignment of pioneer requires devoting in excess of 70 hours per month in public testimony to bible beliefs taught by Jehovah’s Witnesses. They spent many hours with beloved friends preaching and teaching in Pennsylvania.
Margaret and Roy moved to Northern VA in 1991, settled in Reston, Virginia, and continued their pioneer service in the Vienna Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Brother and Sister Hill were beloved in every congregation they served in during the time they were together.
After Roy Hill died in 1992, Margaret continued to pioneer and embrace the privilege of being active in at least 4 additional congregations during the last 20 years of her life. She moved to Townsend, DE to live with her daughter, Brenda and son-in-law, Sim in January 2020. Margaret was an active member of the congregation there where she made several good friends.
Margaret’s spiritual activities coupled with her joy of cooking and baking filled her days. Many family and congregation members were recipients of her delicious gifts in the form of apple pies and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, all made from scratch, with love. Understandably, her pies were the first to go from the dessert table at gatherings. No one, not even her daughter, can make that homemade pie crust like she did.
One special privilege of her ministry that Margaret particularly enjoyed was serving as a pioneer and member of the Farce foreign language group in Fairfax, VA. She was thrilled to be learning and teaching the bible to persons who spoke the Persian language even at her advanced age.
Her many foreign language friends were saddened upon learning of her death and had many recollections and comments about how they felt about Margaret. She set an amazing example in giving her best. She worked hard at preparing answers for the Persian meetings and in learning the language. Margaret’s tireless effort in learning the Persian language was amazing! She would spend hours to prepare her talks and service presentations. The Persian group was full of laughter. She would laugh at jokes and call them ” corny “. Margaret was in the Persian language group for about seven years and during this time was a core member of the group.
Margaret was consistent in adhering to her schedule for the ministry, even striving to drive and join the group in snowy weather! Her zeal and love for the ministry is definitely worth imitating! She set an example of faithfulness in the ministry, meeting attendance and even group social gatherings.
When she returned to visit interested ones their faces would light up because of her warm smile and love for people. Margaret remembered details about them which impressed them, and they realized not only that she cared but that she was also passionate about the message she was sharing. Great job Sister Hill!
Margaret’s zeal for the ministry was very inspiring. Her diligence was admirable. And her acute memory was un-paralleled; for example, no one needed a GPS system when riding with her because she knew the name of every street and remembered the turn-by-turn routes to wherever a person needed to go. She remembered her return visits with detail. Sometimes she would remember people others had forgotten to visit. Margaret will be missed by the Persian group in Fairfax, VA.
Margaret Hill was predeceased by her parents, William Emery and Emma Stanton of New Haven, CT; 4 brothers, William, John, Charles, and Robert; 3 sisters, Joan, Ruth, and Dorothy; her husband, Roy M. Hill; and son, Booker Johnson.
She leaves behind her daughter, Brenda Johnson Sanders (Sim) of Townsend, DE; stepchildren, Toni Burkley of New Wilmington, PA, Ivan Hill (Debbie) of Clairton, PA, and Roy Hill, Jr. (Butch) of Mt. Pleasant, PA; sister, Emma Wiley of Hamden, CT; along with her grandchildren, Troy, Brent, Jarrod, Carmen, Brandi, Tanya, Tina, Booker (Tommy), Lydia, Derek, Tiffany, Ryan and Lyam; and 24 great-grandchildren.
Per Margaret’s wishes, no services were held.
Isabel Mosquera
Thank you so much for sharing these lovely memories! Sister Hill is a great example and I have wonderful memories of the little time I spent with her.
My deepest condolences to all her family. She loved all of you.
Melanie Bradsher
So sorry to lose sister Hill. I truly look forward to seeing her soon in the new world where she’ll be young and healthy again. No more death, pain, or sorrow. Such a blessing.
Aida Alas
I met sister Hill when I joined the Farsi group, and her amazing example of zeal and love for Jehovah is something I’ll cherish forever. I’m so glad I was able to meet such a beautiful person.
Evelyn Murray
Sister Hill was special to me. She helped my mom be in service by means of telephone witnessing and letter writing when my mom was unable to get out of her home any longer. Without her my mom was working alone. They of course became buddies! She was wonderful in her strong obvious love for our heavenly Father, Jehovah. And she was determined to be at the meetings and in FS service even when we tried to encourage her at times, to stay home when she was unsteady physically. She set a wonderful example for us all in endurance! Jehovah misses seeing that loyal servant at work even though he knows what he has in store for her future. I loved my dear sister! Looking to see her real soon. My sincere condolences to you, your family, our family and friends. 2nd Cor. 1:3,4; Ro. 6:7
Sister Evelyn Murray, Camden, NJ
Bea Smallwood
My condolences to The Hill Family, I met sister Hill at my mother’s house, she would go there every Monday to support my mother who was housebound, they would make telephone calls and write letters. The day my mother died was a Monday, I remember that because sister Hill came by. I feel that Jehovah sent her because she really was a source of comfort for me. She came to Fairfax congregation soon after that, where we developed a very close relationship, we worked together a lot and she was my GPS, in fact I bought her a GPS and she put it in her glove compartment, she did not need it. She had a tremendous memory like others have said, she never forgot her calls even in the winter time. She was never afraid of the weather in fact I was more fearful especially when it was ice and snow,
I was afraid she would fall. Sister hill was a fine, fine example of how we should serve Jehovah and I really, really miss her. But I do know it’s a temporary situation and I do look forward to seeing her and God’s New Order.
Lorraine Thomas
This was a beautiful way to remember such a zealous sister. She will be missed. Thanks for sharing.
Tracy Anderson
Sis Hill was a wonderful example of endurance and faithfulness. Her life course was marked by zeal and love for Jehovah. These qualities endeared her to me and so many friends. Clearly she is very loved and most importantly she is safe in Jehovah’s memory.
Pamela Hardy
Margaret was such a special sister. Her love for Jehovah, family and friends remains an example for all. I will miss our conversations. My sincere condolences to the family.
Simpson Family
A beautiful tribute to Sister Hill. Thank you for sharing the pictures and the information about her life.
Love, John, Alisa and Niya Simpson
Luis & Yvonne Gonzalez
May you find comfort in knowing God is with you…every day,every hour,as are our prayers and love. With Deepest sympathy. Ms. Margaret Hill will be missed but Jesus will say in Job 14:14,15. He will call and Ms. Hill will answer and have a beautiful life in paradise.
Martha Lancaster
My dear Brenda and best friend, I am so sorry for your loss. One of my favorite memories, is all the wonderful Family Reunions in Connecticut being with family and friends. Margaret’s Apple pies would always be the highlight of every family gathering. She will be missed. Much love Jennie Lancaster
Charles Boyd
My Deepest only had a short time of knowing her after my teen years but everyone who known her always had special words of my Beautiful Aunt. GOD BLESS and to my cousins my Deepest Condolences. Your cousin CHUBBY
Armande Emery
Auntie was a wonderful person who greeted you with a smile all the time, She will be missed.
Lisa & John Thornton
Brenda and Sim, and extended family, The legacy and good name your loved one, Sister Hill, made for herself is outstanding (Eccl.7:1). Thank you, for sharing some impressive aspects of her life as a self-sacrificing person, devoted, and giving of herself to others. Open arms no doubt will await her when she is called back to life in the coming new world of righteousness (Job 14:14,15) In that new world, as we know, Death will be no more. Until then, May Jehovah the God of all Comfort, comfort and be with you💐
Odessa and Joseph Timpanaro
To Sim and Brenda,
With deepest sympathy from the Timpanaros. Reading all about Margaret was so encouraging to us both. Although we didn’t meet her personally, we truly can see her zeal and love for the ministry and our Great God, Jehovah and His son, Jesus.
Please know your family are in prayers from us both. LOVE YOU!