Mr. Billy Ray Hill, 62, died Thursday evening Feb. 16, 2017, at his home in rural Jefferson Davis County.  Services for Mr. Hill were held on Saturday Feb. 25, 2017, at the Pen Oak Church in Silver Creek, with Rev Robert Barnes officiating.  Interment was in the Pen Oak Cemetery, with Laird Mortuary in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hill was the son of the late Billy Hill and the late Martha Eley Hill of rural Lawrence County. At an early age, he joined the Pen Oak Church and remained a member until he completed his education in the Lawrence County school system.  After high school, Mr. Hill attended Prentiss Normal and Industrial Institute prior to serving in the Mississippi Army National Guard in Monticello. Mr. Hill met and married the love of his life in 1974, Martha Ann Smith, and to this union seven children were born.   

Mr. Hill worked with his family in his father’s logging business prior to working for Orleans Furniture in Columbia, and later at Gulf Coast Pier in Gulfport until his health failed and forced him into a medical retirement. In addition to being a hard worker, Mr. Hill had a passion for cars and spending time with family and friends.

Mr. Hill’s survivors include his wife of 42 years, Martha Smith Hill of Silver Creek; three sons Billy R. Hill Jr. of Brookhaven, Scottie Hill of Mize and Regon Hill of New Hebron; five daughters Alfreda Stringer of Monticello, Sonya Hill Lot of Silver Creek, Carlos Hill (Dennis) Hayes of Oceanside, California, Cynthia (Van) Boone of Fitzgerald, Georgia and Margie “Trina” Hill of Prentiss; one sister Carlo Holloway of Richland; five brothers, Rev. Louis Hill, Pat Hill, both of Hattiesburg, Jimmy Hill, Earl Hill, both of Silver Creek, and Eric Hill of Seminary; twenty-two grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.