posted December 7, 2006
Benjamin Lawson Hill III, 64, died Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, following an extended illness.
He was the son of the late Benjamin Lawson Hill Jr. and Emma Wells. He was a member of Bridgeport United Methodist Church, a 1960 graduate of Bridgeport High School, received his undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University, his master’s from UTC, and his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.
Ben’s career began as a teacher/coach and guidance counselor at North Sand Mountain High School, followed by an appointment as confidential assistant to Gov. George Wallace from 1970 to 1973. In 1974 he opened his law practice in Jasper while also teaching classes at Northeast State Junior College. A member of the Marion County, Tn., and American Bar Associations, he had served as city judge for Jasper and Whitwell for more than 20 years. In 1990 he was elected Juvenile Court judge and was re-elected in 1998, a position he held until retiring in 2001 due to health problems, which led to him becoming an active participant in the Chattanooga Heart Institute’s rehabilitation and exercise program.
A longtime farmer, Ben raised cattle, raised and trained standard-bred horses, and was a member of the U.S. Trotters Association.
His interests were broad and varied, and his enjoyment of the many facets of his life was great, but of all his talents and interests, perhaps the greatest of all was his gift for storytelling, which gave him the opportunity to spend time with his many friends.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Gunter Hill, of Jasper; his children, Ben L. Hill IV and wife, Lynda, of Bridgeport, and Connie Hill and husband, Doug Turner, of Birmingham; a sister, Lynette Hill Eason and husband, Ed, of Fort Worth, Tx.; three grandchildren, Isaac Motes Hill, of Bridgeport, and Emma and Aubrey Turner, of Birmingham.
The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. CST at the Jasper Chapel of Rogers Funeral Home with Randy Smith and Jim Chandler officiating. Interment will be in Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4355 Highway 58, Suite 101, 58 Commons Building, Chattanooga, TN 37416. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting our Web site at www.rogersfuneralhome.com.
The family will receive friends Thursday from 5-9 p.m. CST at Rogers Funeral Home in Jasper.
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