Cleveland V Hill Jr, born 6/9/32 of Cleveland V. Hill Sr and Irma Lucille Castleman Hill in a little town called Crossville TN, in a hospital and with a female MD ! Dad wasn’t actually a junior though, his father at age 16 though the revere of his name sounded better so he changed it from Vernon Cleveland to Cleveland Vernon. Dad nor his mother never knew this until we were in TN when I was 26 and dad was almost 50 looking though his grandmothers family bible and saw his dad’s name backwards. Grandpa was a redhead, one of 4 in that family and his nickname was Red and this so very much runs in the family, thus me.
Crossville was a small 5,000 population town at the crux of Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga in the great smokey mountains. He grew up in a large extended Christian family with lots of cousins and aunts and uncles to play with that were near same age. Grandparents with good work ethics. He lived there until age 13 when they moved to the chagrin of his paternal grandmother to the evil north where his parents were working for the WWII war effort in Cleveland Ohio.
Dad was saved at 8,9 by his grandparents and I doubt his parents were ever saved by stories I heard. At 13,14 dad was asked by a man whose dad owned some land who was affiliated with Christian Brigade Boys for dad and an “uncle” a very dear old friend of dads, they had known each other since they were 13, John Balough, to spend a cold weekend out on this piece of land and campout and see if boys and girls would have fun here. Dad and uncle John did and thus became Camp Cherith for girls and Stoney Glen for the boys. Other Christian churches also used this property and my brother and I both have fond memories of fall weekends or summer weeks spend there with church friends. This was used by GARB – Greater Area Regular Baptist, which Euclid Nottingham Church was to be changed to Nottingham Baptist church when they moved. I went to church then from age 2 to when I got married there at 23 and moved away.
Dad was an avid athlete! You give him a ball and he breaks school records some of which held for 20 years!! Track/field – some of these stood for 20 years, football, basketball, volleyball, baseball. Incredible artist – he was building the set for the Mukaido which my mother was singing soprano in when they met at 16 in a geisha outfit. Dad was 3 months older than mom and it was a fairy tale ever since with them.
After graduation dad enlisted into the Navy so he wouldn’t be drafted and was blessed to remain stateside during the Korean War in Corpus Christi TX and San Diego CA. Mom went on to Nursing School in Cleveland Ohio at St. Luke’s School of Nursing.
Dad had some leave and they decided to get married at age 20. They had to get permission from both sets of parents, the Navy and the School of Nursing and all conceded.
They married 11/21/52. Dad went back to Texas and mom went back to Nursing School after a 4 day honeymoon.
Mom graduated with honors June 1953 and went to Corpus Christi to be with her husband. I was born October 1954 in Cleveland Ohio as mom was not having any Naval personnel touching their child !!
Dad was honorably discharged from the Navy Dec 1955 and he went on to work with another longtime Christian friend Jim Johnson who we also called uncle, at a premier handmade, custom made jewelry store in Cleveland Ohio, Potter and Melon. He started out as a journeyman silver smith. My uncle stayed on for decades but dad couldn’t make ends meet supporting a wife and daughter on 25 cents an hour.
Jeff was born Dec 1956 and dad went on to work for Lincoln Electric in Euclid Ohio the world’s largest welding manufacturer in the world. He ended up in the research department.
My dad was probably the most intelligent man I ever knew – he could talk about anything. I talked my parents into starting a jewelry beading business like I had in Texas before moving back and get my dads creative juices flowing again and we all had so much fun beading God’s rocks. I have always collected rocks and have baskets full all over my house and yard. My favorite times were out walking with my dad’s heads and mine looking down watching for treasures!
He and mom retired at age 55 due to mom’s health and began winter visiting to this beautiful state during Ohio’s cold months while gorgeous here. They sold their home in Wickliffe Ohio after mom’s mom died in 1994 and moved full time here.
Mom and dad were longtime members at Calvary Baptist Church and for many years until my mom’s health got the better of her were the chairs for the Mission Board. I am sure my mother’s beautiful handwriting is all of church archives.
Mom died 1/1/20 and was buried 1/4/20, Dad died 1/9/21 after being placed at Flora’s Care Home which I couldn’t more highly recommend 12/16/20. They took such excellent care of him. As though he was one of their own. Thank you ! I love you guys.
Dad is survived by 2 children, myself and my younger brother Jeff in Grand Rapids MI, his wife Ruth of 36 years, 5 children, 4 great grandsons, a brother in Las Vegas, niece in WA, great niece in WA who he shares a birthday with, numerous cousins in TN, DE, nephews in NY, FL, numerous friends here and throughout the country, friends in Christ.
Dad I love you and mom so very much and miss you both so much but you are together again and with your Lord and Savior 67 years married and another life time together. No better parents in the world than what Jeff and I had.
When God made woman from man it was because man was lacking companionship and purpose among other things. The last 3 weeks must have been the hardest thing for dad to endure, for he was without his better half, his best half he would say.
Dad often said how much he wanted to be with Carolyn, his wife, but would counter that desire with the statement “but only if it was the Lord’s will.” This is Dad’s legacy; his epitaph if there ever was one. The priority of others. He put others before himself. His wife and kids, his friends, though few in number substantive; Jim Johnson who he met in the 8th grade , John Balough who he met at Hough Avenue Baptist Church, as well as men whose names I remember from childhood whom he worked with at Lincoln Electric, ken Chidlaw, Norm Gross, and Eddie Pet.
He was a private man in many respects and I know little if anything from his childhood . In many ways his life began and ended with Carolyn.
I close with a few lyrics from a song by a country singer named Alan Jackson:
Callous hands
Told the story
For this small town
Southern man…
You can break the back
But you cant break the spirit
Of a small town southern man.
He bowed his head to Jesus
And his stood for Uncle Sam
And he only loved one woman and
The greatest contribution are the ones
He’ll leave behind
Raised on the ways and gentle kindness
Of a small town southern man.
Finally death came callin’
For this small town southern man
He said it’s alright ‘cause you worry I’m blessed
And I know I am ‘cause I see angels
And they got me by the hand.
Don’t you cry and don’t you worry
I’m blessed and I know I am
‘cause God
Has a place in heaven
For a small town southern man.
Dad I love you and I’ll miss you and momma till the day I die. Take your rest now Dad. I’ll be seeing you.