elijah hill
1889-1971
Life Story
Birth & Family Origins
Elijah Hill was born on September 22, 1889, in Newton County, Mississippi, to Gus Hill (1872–1938) and Malissa Gipson Hill (1872–1935). He was raised in a rural farming household where hard work, faith, and responsibility were foundational values.
Early Life & Education
In his early years, Elijah worked as a farm laborer on the home farm, a common path for African American men of his generation in Newton County. While balancing agricultural labor, he completed the sixth grade of elementary school.
Marriage & Family
In 1912, Elijah Hill married Paralee Earnest (1892–1963). From this union, eight children were born, two of whom preceded him in death. The known children of Elijah Hill and Paralee Earnest Hill were:
- Arthur Lee Hill (1914–1984)
- Sylvester Hill (1917–?)
- Francis Hill (1918–1919)
- Alma M. Hill (1920–?)
- Edwena Hill (1921–?)
- Melissa Hill (1923–?)
- Cebrus Nebraska Hill (1925–1966)
- Exie Mae Hill (1929–?)
- Gustava Paralee Hill (1931–2000)
Following the death of Paralee Earnest Hill in 1963, Elijah later married Ethel Moncrief Hill (1902–1999), who survived him.
Church Membership & Religious Leadership
Elijah joined Saint John Missionary Baptist Church at an early age and remained a faithful member throughout his life. His service to the church was extensive and enduring. He served as:
- Deacon
- Teacher
- Superintendent of Sunday School
- Devotional conductor for the Usher Board
- President of the Union Singing Convention
His leadership reflected a deep commitment to Christian service and to the spiritual life of the St. John congregation.
Community & Civic Involvement
In addition to his church leadership, Elijah Hill was actively engaged in civic and community affairs in Newton County. He was a member of the local Masonic Lodge and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Newspaper accounts further document his leadership beyond the church. Elijah Hill served as treasurer of the Negro Adult Leaders and Farmers Council, an organization focused on leadership development, agricultural cooperation, and community organization among African American residents.
He was also listed as a volunteer worker for the Colored March of Dimes drive, contributing his time and effort to countywide fundraising initiatives that supported public health causes within the Black community.
These roles reflect Elijah Hill’s standing as a trusted and dependable community leader whose influence extended into religious, civic, and charitable spheres.
Later Years & Death
Elijah Hill passed away on August 22, 1971. Funeral services were held on August 29, 1971, at Saint John Missionary Baptist Church, with Rev. Otis Ellis officiating and assisted by other ministers. Tributes during the service reflected his Christian character, leadership, and lifelong service to church and community.
Burial
Elijah Hill was laid to rest at Saint John Missionary Baptist Church graveyard, where he rests among family members and fellow congregants who shared in the life and history of the St. John community.
Sidebar: Community Leadership & Mutual Aid in Newton County
During the mid-20th century, African American civic life in Newton County was sustained through church-based organizations, agricultural councils, and volunteer-driven fundraising efforts. Groups such as the Negro Adult Leaders and Farmers Council provided structured leadership opportunities for Black farmers and community representatives, promoting cooperation, education, and civic responsibility in an era when formal political participation was severely limited.
Fundraising campaigns like the Colored March of Dimes drive reflected a parallel system of mutual aid within Black communities. Through volunteer workers, churches, and local organizers, African Americans raised funds for national public health causes while also strengthening local networks of cooperation and trust. Participation in these efforts signaled respected leadership and community standing.
Elijah Hill’s service as treasurer of the Negro Adult Leaders and Farmers Council and as a volunteer worker for the Colored March of Dimes places him within this tradition of grassroots leadership—one that blended faith, agriculture, and civic responsibility to support both local families and broader social causes.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- Scott County Times, Arthur Lee Hill Obituary, Wed, Dec 12, 1984 ·Page 7
- The Newton Record, Elijah L. Hill Obituary, Wed, Sep 01, 1971 ·Page 10
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., WWI Civilian Draft Registrations, 1917-1918
- The Newton Record, Thu, May 12, 1955 ·Page 1
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