House Resolution 2

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMEMORATING THE LIFE, LEGACY AND SERVICE OF MRS. BERTHA REE MCDONALD HILL AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HER PASSING.

WHEREAS, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven," and as such, the grand architect of the universe, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny, has summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, Mrs. Bertha Ree McDonald Hill, to eternal rest, as she has made life's final transition from earthly travailing to heavenly reward, rendering great sorrow and loss to her family and friends; and

WHEREAS, the State of Illinois, particularly the Chicago community, lost a wonderful friend, educator extraordinaire and community pillar on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, with the passing of Mrs. Hill, a devoted and resolute servant of God and her fellowman, who possessed an unmitigated affinity for educating and inspiring youth and families to maximize their fullest potential through her selfless approach of paying it forward in both her professional and spiritual capacities of life; and

WHEREAS, born in Heidelberg, Mississippi, on November 26, 1942, to her late parents, Mrs. Geraldine Barnett Davis and Mr. Amos McDonald, Mrs. Hill's mother sought a better quality of life for her daughter, and entrusted her upbringing to her brother and his wife, Esker and Lucille Barnett, who relocated Bertha to Erie, Pennsylvania, where she completed her preliminary and secondary education at Saint Benedict's Catholic Academy; and

WHEREAS, it was during the summers spent in Mississippi with her grandmother, the late Mrs. Irene Goins Barnett, that Bertha Ree would learn the fundamental essentials of hard work, respect and worship, and it would also be the place where, as a young and impressionable child, she would come to know Christ as her Lord and personal Savior, after uniting in Christian fellowship with First Baptist Church of Heidelberg; and

WHEREAS, upon completing her education at Saint Benedict's, Mrs. Hill matriculated at Tennessee State University, where she attained her baccalaureate degree in business and subsequently moved to Chicago under the tutelage of her aunt Frankie Mae and uncle Ben Denham, to embark upon a career in the business arena, before making the life-altering decision to return to school to become a certified elementary school teacher by attaining her master's in education from Governor's State University, a choice that she soon discovered was the purpose destined for her life and career; and

WHEREAS, one who relied heavily on the faith she came to experience as a child in Heidelberg, Mrs. Hill financially supported and attended her late mother's home church, St. Elmo Baptist Church in Laurel, Mississippi, whenever she visited Mississippi, however in her quest to find a church to call home in Chicago, Bertha was compelled by the Holy Spirit to join Shiloah Missionary Baptist Church in May 1990, and remained devout in her Christian service and patronage throughout 28 years, reflecting her passion for God through her commitment to assisting others and her Christ-like care and concern for the building of the kingdom, an allegiance to which she continued to manifest through the adaptation of her favorite passage of scripture in Psalms 34:8, "O taste and see that the Lord is Good: blessed is the man that trusts in Him."; and

WHEREAS, as fate would lend itself to building upon the blueprint divinely designed for the pattern of her life by the God-head of the Great Deity, Bertha's heart was pierced by the love, chivalry and affection of Mr. Henry Roscoe Hill, and the duo became bone of one another's bone and flesh of one another's flesh after exchanging the nuptials of holy matrimony on July 2, 1970, building a lifetime of memories and imparting the love shared for one another into the lineal fabric of their son, Brent, and grandchildren, Nico and Amache; and

WHEREAS, an advocate for education, a cause she championed until the very end of her earthly tenure, Mrs. Hill's career in education spanned the course of more than three decades with the Chicago Public School System, wherein she challenged herself and her students to excel in every educational pursuit undertaken, before retiring from her labor of love at Smith Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, in Mrs. Hill's transfiguration from mortality to immortality, she now adorns the raiment of a spiritual bride, awaiting the bridegroom's return in holy anticipation of that wondrous event, as it is written in the book of Revelation 21:1-2 - "And I saw a new Heaven and a new earth: for the first Heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."; and

WHEREAS, though she has traversed the river of life to reunite with those who answered God's summons to life eternal and now beckon her arrival to the celestial shores of Heaven's grandeur, the legacy of Mrs. Hill's memory, which if put to music, would be a majestic symphonic masterpiece composed by the Holy Trinity, will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of her beloved survivors, including: a devoted husband of 48 years, Henry Roscoe Hill; son, Brent Hill; grandchildren, Nico and Amache Hill; siblings, James H. Heidelberg, Dr. M. Deborrah Hyde, George Harold (Denise) Huff, State Representative Omeria McDonald Scott and Hilliard (Anita) McDonald; Charles (Mary) Hughes, who was like a brother; brother-in-law, Ron (Renee) Hill; and a host of other family members and friends; and

WHEREAS, we encourage the family to find solace from the overwhelming sadness created by the earthly departure of their beloved family member in Revelation 21:4, wherein is recorded, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away," and renewed in their faith that Mrs. Hill fulfilled the commandment of II Timothy 4:7, by having fought a good fight, finishing her course and keeping the faith until the hour of her departure was at hand; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the life of such a remarkable, genuine and selfless individual as Mrs. Hill, whose life light was a brilliantly impassioned beacon of hope for all she encountered along this earthly sojourn:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commemorate the life and legacy of Mrs. Bertha Ree McDonald Hill, whose life was a fragrant rose adorning the Heavenly Father's botanical garden of this earth's mortal dressing room, permeating the atmosphere with her beauty and aroma, and to whose family we express sincere and deepest sympathy upon her passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mrs. Bertha Ree McDonald Hill and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.