(First dictated by Dr. William Bailey Hill in July 1992.)

The roots of John Henry Hill and Lillie Bell Smith extended to Bibb County in the west central part of Alabama. Henry Hill and Julia Ann Hill were slaves of a Hill family and they chose Hill as their family name.

Mining coal, iron, bauxite and other minerals were the principle industries of Bibb County. John Henry Hill chose not to work in the mines so he chose to attend Talladega College to become a teacher. Lillie Bell Smith lived in Talledega and went to school there also. They met, married, and moved to Bibb County.

John Henry and Lillie Bell taught elementrary school, which was all that was available at that time. He was instrumental in establishing Rosenwald schools, first in Bibb County and then in surrounding counties. In the summer months, they taught adult schools. Lillie Bell Smith taught along with him every year until her death.

To this union, ten children were born. Two girls died as infants with whooping cough. All of the children were born in Centerville, Alabama (Bibb County) except Erline who was born in Wetumpka.

The oldest child was Odelle. She married Clifford Epps, Sr., moved to Arkansas and had seven children; Clifford, Jr., Edgar, Clarence, James, Wilhelmina, Alonzo and Lorenzo (twins).

The second child was William Bailey. He married Sadie McKissack from Athens, Alabama. They now live in Tuskegee and have two daughters; Barbara Jean and Mable Odelle.

The third child was Ivie Pearl. She married Henry Foster, Sr. and moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas where she raised her two children, Doris Anita and Henry Jr. After the death of her Husband, she later remarried and moved to Tucson, Arizona.

The fourth child was John Henry Hill, Jr. (Johnny). He married Marie Pila, lived in New York City and had one son, John Henry, 111. Johnny moved to Chicago, Illinois, married Louise Davis and later moved to Los Angeles. To this union was born two sons, Orrin and Jason.

The fifth child was Booker T. He married Marynell and moved to New York City. To this union five girls were born: Sandra, Joan, Delores, Jacqueline and Francine. Booker T. still resides in New York City and is married to Allie Hill.

The sixth child is Erline Viola. She married Timothy Johnson, Sr. To this union eight children were born: Marybelle, Timothy, Jr., William Earle, Carol, Ruth, Bettye, Henry and Phillip. Most of their life was spent in North Carolina.

The seventh child is Col. Louis Driver Hill. He married Ecra Jett of Pensacola, Florida. They had two daughters, Myrna Erline and Ecra Elaine (Deceased at an early age). Louis' Air Force career carried him and his family all over the world. An Original Tuskegee Airman, he now resides in Los Angeles, California.

The last child was Joseph Oliver. He was married to Alma. From this union was born one child, Janice. He is now married to Nora Samuels and lives in Los Angeles, Califoniia.

In 1925 Lillie Bell Smith Hill died at the age of 45. John Henry later married Rebecca Moore in Centerville, Alabama. There were no children born to this union. She also preceded him in death. He was teaching in Brianfield, Alabama at his death in 1938 at the age of 67.