Charlotte Hill

CHARLOTTE LOU WHITE HILL, 84, loving wife of Leon Hill of Lonoke, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on January 13, 2015.

She was born to the late Cecil and Cecil Scott White on March 13, 1930 in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Charlotte graduated from Mabelvale High School in 1948.  After graduation she worked as a librarian at the Pulaski County Library where she enjoyed driving the bookmobile throughout the county.  She met Leon Hill, a Lonoke County fish farmer, through a friend in Little Rock and after dating for a time they began to plan their life together.  They delayed their wedding date in order for Leon to attend the first annual convention of the Catfish Farmers of America held in New Orleans.  After their wedding in 1969, Leon and Charlotte attended 17 of the next 18 annual conventions as they developed and promoted their fish farming business. Charlotte worked alongside her husband at the office of Leon Hill Farms, Inc. until retirement. Charlotte was an active member of the Lonoke Baptist Church where she enjoyed being a choir member for many years.  She dearly loved her church family and especially loved the choir.  She was also a member of the Lonoke Book Club. She formerly served as Chairman of the Lonoke County Library Commission.  She and the late Marjorie Walker McCrary worked tirelessly in their efforts to develop what is now the Lonoke/Prairie County Library System.

Known to her family as “Aunt Char”, she was a very generous person as evidenced by making it possible for her nieces and nephews to further their education.  She delighted in being around little children and always made sure she had a candy treat for them.  She was a wonderful wife to Leon and they worked together and traveled together.  Whether for hunting and fishing trips with friends, business or pleasure, or just to explore the great outdoors, they especially enjoyed their travels to European countries, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Ireland, China, and Egypt, where she experienced a most memorable camel ride.  She was a great cook and housekeeper and took great pride in making and keeping their home in order and comfortable.  She enjoyed collecting decorative eggs and displaying them proudly in her curio cabinet.  Leon was a sportsman and she would eagerly cook any fish or game brought in from their adventures.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Scotty White.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 45 years, Leon Hill, of Lonoke, Arkansas, sister, Betty Nixon, of Conway, Arkansas, sister-in-law, Jane Ann Benafield, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, nephews, Samuel White (Sylvia), of Jupiter, Florida, Michael Nixon (Cathy), of Reed City, Michigan, Shawn Nixon (Melissa), of Lowell, Arkansas, and Donald Scott Nixon (Beth), of Conway, Arkansas, Bruce Benafield (Natalie), of Conway, Arkansas, and Blake Benafield, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, nieces, Pamela L. Sager (David) of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Brandy Snell (Ranger), of Conway, Arkansas.  She is also survived by numerous other great-nieces and great-nephews, family members, and many very special friends.

The family would like to thank her wonderful doctors for their great care and compassion:  Dr. Michael Bauer, Dr. Dean Kumpuris, Dr. Andrew Kumpuris, and Dr. Cidney Hulett.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, January 16, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at Lonoke Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Scott Miller and Rev. Jimmy Wallace. Visitation will precede the service beginning at Noon at the Church.  Burial will be held at the Lonoke Cemetery immediately following the memorial service.

Pallbearers are Bruce Benafield, Blake Benafield, Samuel White, Shawn Nixon, Donald Scott Nixon, Robert Hopper, Neal Anderson, and Dr. Porter Rodgers.

Honorary Pallbearers are Richard Bransford, Dr. B.E. Holmes, George Pugh, Dr. Don Barrow, George Morgan, Mike Shaw, Darrell Webb, Phillip Howell, Bo Grady and Mike Hill.

Memorials may be made to Lonoke Baptist Church, the Wade Knox Children’s Advocacy Center, or a charity of donor’s choice.

Arrangements by Boyd Funeral Home, Lonoke, Arkansas.  Online guest book at www.boydfuneralhome.net.