starDavie Hill

Davie HillI was born September 15, 1914 in Monticello, Georgia. My parents were: Sarah Clements Roberts and Jimmie Ned Roberts. I was the second of six children. My mother taught me the first grade at home because it was hard for black children to get an education at that time. We moved to Urbana when I was seven years old and I attended the Urbana schools. I graduated from Urbana High School. I graduated from Beauty School in Michigan, where I met and married my husband, Samuel H. Hill. We came back to Urbana in 1939, where I continued my education at the University of Illinois and worked as a beautician in my home. I received an associate's degree from Parkland College at the age of 52.

In 1957 Mrs. Frances Nelson became too ill to oversee the operation of The Frances Nelson Home for Children. I became the supervisor and worked in that capacity until 1963. In 1963 my husband moved us to Liberia, West Africa, where I stayed for a year. I returned home to work for the new Headstart Program as a Center Supervisor. I retired from Headstart after 13 years of lovingly educating many children who still communicate with me from time to time. For many years I was a licensed day care provider and foster parent. Retiring from that profession at the age of 81.

Having been a member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for almost eighty years, I am blessed to have held offices in the Church and its Church School. I am the proud mother of Diane Mitchell, Shirley Roberts, and James Hill. I am blessed to have many foster children who still call me Mother. I have five Grandchildren and four Great Grandchildren.

  

This Legacy is Yours was a cooperative effort between the National Council of Negro Women, Champaign County Chapter, and the Museum of the Grand Prairie.

A gold star star denotes original charter members of the Champaign County Section of the National Council of Negro Women.

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