Tuesday, August 9, 2011Eleven Oâ??clock a.m.Providence Baptist Church1106 Tuscaloosa StreetGreensboro, North Carolina 27406Rev. Dr. Howard Allan Chubbs, Pastor~Obituary~ Dr. Alfred Hill, Jr. was born on February 17, 1919 and raised in the small town of Henderson, Texas. He was the second youngest of eleven brothers born to Alphous and Catherine Hill. Growing up on a farm in the segregated south, Dr. Hill first learned the values of hard work, humility, and faith that he carried with him through his entire life. After completing high school in Henderson, Texas, Dr. Hill enrolled at Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical University where he studied Agriculture. However, in 1942, prior to graduating he enlisted into service with the United States Army during World War II. After completing basic training in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri; he qualified for Officerâ??s Candidate School, where he was commissioned to the rank of Second Lieutenant and was deployed to join the European campaign. During World War II, Dr. Hill spent four years in active duty in England, Belgium and France. But at warâ??s end, he returned to Texas to continue his studies at Prairie View, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Dr. Hillâ??s eldest son, Lionel, was born in 1949 and in 1952, the family moved to Greensboro, North Carolina after Dr. Hill accepted a position as an instructor in the Biology Department at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. During his early years at A&T, he lectured in the areas of Biology and Zoology and began cultivating many important long-term friendships and relationships. While in Greensboro, his second son, Charles, was born in 1953, followed by a daughter, Sharon, in 1959.In 1959, Dr. Hill took a break from teaching to pursue his PhD at Kansas State University where he received his doctorate in Entomology. After graduating from Kansas State, he returned to Greensboro and A&T where he advanced to become a tenured professor, served as Director of the Health Careers Opportunity Program, and held the position of acting Chairperson of the Biology Department. In 1975, Dr. Hill married Helen McWilliams of Greensboro, North Carolina. With their marriage, another daughter, Kelley, was welcomed to the family. In 1979, a grandson, Courtney, was born, and was raised by Dr. Hill and Helen as their son. Throughout his professional career, Dr. Hill continued his service to our country in the Army Reserves where he rose to the rank of Colonel. He was later nominated to become a Brigadier General, which he took as a great honor, but graciously declined to accept in order to remain with his family. He retired from the Reserves in 1979. And after spending 45 years preparing students for undergraduate matriculation or entry into medical, dental and other graduate disciplines, Dr. Hill retired from A&T in 1997. From the day he moved to Greensboro, Dr. Hill was an active and faithful member of Providence Baptist Church for nearly 60 years. He held many positions including being a Chairman of the Deacon Board, Director of the Board of Christian Education, Sunday School Teacher, Member of the Tellerâ??s Committee, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, member of the Pulpit Committee, and President of the Menâ??s Choir. Dr. Hill is survived by his loving wife Helen of 35 years; children Lionel (Peggy), Charles (Eileen), Kelley (Wendell), Sharon, and Courtney; grandchildren Kenan, Miles, Charlton, Lesley, Allyson, Dominique, and Kennedy; brothers, Elmer, LJ, and Booker T (Louise); three great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives that loved him dearly.