Hamilton D. Hill Jr.

Hamilton Daniel Hill Jr., born on Oct. 21, 1957, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, at Goodwill Nursing Home, Macon, Ga. Danny was the oldest of five children born to the late Hamilton Daniel Hill Sr. and Deloris Lawson Hill. He was the paternal grandson of the late Deacon James Harrison and Ralphenia Diggs Hill and the maternal grandson of Andrew Louis Benjamin Lawson and Susan Lillie Lawson.

His early education began at Rafting Creek Elementary School, Rembert, then on to Shaw Heights Elementary and Oakland Middle School, Dalzell. In 1974, he completed his high school education at the age of 16 from Hillcrest High School, Dalzell. Danny went on to further his education at Devry Institute of Technology in Atlanta, where he received an associate degree in electronics engineering technology. He then attended Southern Technical Institute (of the University System of Georgia), Marietta, Ga., where he received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering; and graduate studies at California State University, electrical engineering, computer hardware and architecture design, Los Angeles, Calif.

He worked for 22 years in the profession he so dearly loved, starting at Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. in Marietta, where he was a design engineer. He later transferred to Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. in Sunnyvale, Calif.; then to Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. as a project engineer in Burbank, Calif.; Lockheed Martin (formerly LORAL Electro-Optical) as a project electrical engineer, Pasadena, Calif.; and, lastly, at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) as a senior engineer, Pasadena. At JPL, as one of his final projects he served as the project engineer and technical manager for the JPL 05 Mars Mission.

At an early age, he became a member of Hopewell Baptist Church. Danny was a faithful Christian and always found a church home wherever he resided. Before moving back to the east coast from California, his last church home was the Oasis Christian Center in Los Angeles. His personal ministry involved giving back to the community. One achievement was his leadership in the celebration of African-American achievements past and present. He spearheaded this celebration while a member of the black history team at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Despite the illness that came upon our beloved brother, he enjoyed a rich and rewarding life. He traveled whenever he could and loved his family. He had a grounded foundation in his faith in God.

He leaves to cherish his memory: three brothers, Wayne Gerald Hill (Valarie) of Wheaton, Ill., Michael Lopez Hill (Lucretia) of Pooler, Ga., and James Harrison Hill Sr. (Yulonda) of Macon, Ga.; one sister, Debra Hill Gilbert (Eddie) of Stockbridge, Ga.; one great-uncle, Joseph Jones of Sumter; two uncles, Eddie Walker Hill (Rudine) of Willingboro, N.J., and Calvin Lawson of Connecticut; 14 aunts, Ralphenia C. Hill of District Heights, Md., Ida Ursula Clark of Clinton, Md., Alneda Calpurnia Gethers (George) of Sumter, Gracie Teresa Alexander (Carl) of Brooklyn, N.Y., Annie Bell Gooden and Eva Mae Lawson, both of Sumter, Lillian Johnson of New Jersey, Susan Lawson of Pennsauken, N.J., Lenell Bey of Camden, N.J., Katie Hill of Ridgeland, Bernice Hill and Mable Lawson, both of Sumter, Doris Hill of Greenville and Anita Lawson of Camden, N.J.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Hopewell Baptist Church, 3285 Peach Orchard Road, Dalzell, with the Rev. Richard Addison, pastor, eulogist, the Rev. Burdell Hill, presiding, assisted by Elder James Witherspoon.

The remains will be placed in the church at 2 p.m.

The funeral procession will leave at 2:20 p.m. from the home of his uncle and aunt, George and Alneda C. Hill Gethers, 1 Hallmark Lane, Sumter.

Floral bearers will be ushers and missionary ministry of Hopewell Baptist Church.

Pallbearers will be Rex G. Wright, O’Neal Montgomery, Rudy Loney, Charles Dais, Gregory Dennis, Westley Gardner and William Robinson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Perry W. James, Eugene B. Brooks, the Rev. JC Lane, Myron Williams, Hampton Wright, Donald Anderson and Robert Strickland.

Burial will be in the Hopewell Baptist Churchyard cemetery, Dalzell.

Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr.com.

Visit us on the web at www.williamsfuneralhomeinc.com.

Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.