Mrs. Arlene Virginia Trotter Hill

January 16, 1928 - October 28, 2020

Mrs. Arlene Virginia Trotter Hill, 92, of Petersburg, Virginia, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister-in-love, aunt and friend, peacefully slipped into eternal rest in her home very early Wednesday morning, October 28, 2020. A native of Petersburg, Virginia, she was born January 16, 1928, as the middle child of three children to the late Luther Hiawatha Trotter, Sr. and late Flossie Dunn Trotter. Mrs. Hill attended Petersburg's public schools, graduating from Peabody High School in 1944. She also attended Virginia State College (Virginia State University), completing two years of study. She was married for over 57 years to the absolute love of her life, Mr. James Alfred Hill. Mrs. Hill loved her roles as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grand mother, and to their union were born two children, Mr. Wayne "Randy" Randolph Hill and Mrs. Gladys "Cissy" Hill Scott, 7 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Mrs. Hill, an early "hidden figure", was employed at Virginia State University (VSU) where she executed computing tasks in the Data Processing Center. A champion of education, she also worked at VSU's Office of the Registrar, where she enjoyed encouraging students to better themselves and to work towards their educational goals. She also worked for the City of Petersburg Social Services in the Fuel Assistance Program. Mrs. Hill was a fervent believer in exercising the right to vote and shared stories of paying poll taxes to ensure that her ballots were cast. Mrs. Hill was an exquisite dresser who often designed her own fashions and never felt completely dressed unless she was wearing a hat. She will also be remembered for her love of travel, shopping and especially books, including the entire series of Danielle Steel novels, anything related to American and Black history, the Bible and her daily devotions. A woman of great faith, Mrs. Hill was baptized at the early age of 10 years old at Bethesda Bibleway Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, under the Pastorate of Bishop John S. Beane. During her early adult life, she attended First Baptist Birdsville. She later joined First Baptist Church Harrison Street, where she was a member for over 50 years. Mrs. Hill loved music and singing and shared her talents as a first soprano in the Cathedral Choir and also served as the choir president. Additionally, she provided dedicated and devoted service as a member of The Pastor Partners, The Maude E. Taylor Memorial Club, The Membership Committee, The Ambassadors, serving as president in 2004, The Senior Missionary Circle and The B. R. Powell Ladies Bible Memorial Class. She also was known for her dramatic performances of The Creation in The Player's Guild. An excellent organizer and fundraiser, she hosted the first organizational meeting of The Christian Women's Fellowship Breakfast in February 1976 in her home. Her husband, James A. Hill, prepared the meal. She was also well known for her fundraising project, "The Baby Contest", and enjoyed working very hard to make sure that her baby entry won. Mrs. Hill was a member of Club Fabulous, holding offices of president and treasurer, The Merrynette Civic and Social Club, for 48 years, serving as president and chaplain, The Red Hats "All That Hats", for 14 years, and was an active member of the Peabody National Alumni Association. She served as a member of the Southside Regional Hospital National Senior Circle Association and was an active supporter of the American Cancer Society and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Mrs. Hill was preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband of 57 years, Mr. James Alfred Hill, parents, Mr. Luther Hiawatha Trotter, Sr. and Mrs. Flossie Dunn Trotter, precious aunt and second mother, Miss Rosa E. Dunn, brother, Mr. Luther Hiawatha Trotter, Jr., sister, Mrs. Madelyn Delores Richardson, granddaughter, Mrs. Donna Ruth Arlene Birdsong, and sister-friend, Mrs. Helen Coltrane Ballard Giles. She leaves to cherish her memory her dedicated children, Mr. Wayne R. (Jacqueline) Hill of Petersburg and Mrs. Gladys (Hugh, Sr.) Scott of Lansing, Michigan; sisters-in-love, Mrs. Barbara A. Trotter, Mrs. Margie Wilson, Mrs. Lucy A. Jackson and Mrs. Dorothy Jackson, all of Petersburg, and Mrs. Dorothy J. Jackson of North Carolina; brother-in-law, Mr. Ronald Jackson of North Carolina; cousins, Mr. Linwood R. Dunn of Petersburg, Samuel White, Sherman White, Joan (Rev. James) Parham, Marian (James) Jones, Charles (Edith) White, Donald White, Sonja Claud, Linda White, Tony White, Jane Wyche, Alma (James) Branch, Carolyn Owens, Eugene Owens, Nannie Trotter, Thelma Trotter, Bishop Cephas (Susie) Trotter, Rudolph (Carolyn) Trotter, Shirley Robinson all of Emporia; two nephews, Mr. Luther H. Trotter, III of Los Angeles, California and Mr. Donald M. (Renee) Richardson, Sr. of Petersburg; devoted great-niece, Ms. Angela Williams of Midlothian; four grandsons, Mr. Wayne R. Hill, of Richmond, Mr. Hugh M. Scott, Jr. of Los Angeles, California, Mr. Benjamin J. (Sherri) Scott of Lansing, Michigan, and Mr. Joshua (Sophia) Hawkins-Hill of Pensacola, Florida; two granddaughters, Dr. Jamil B. Scott of Lansing, Michigan and Miss Felicia M. A. Hill of Peterburg; 10 great-grandchildren, LaShea Hill and Larry Hill of Richmond; Jeremiah, Josiah, Jacob and Delilah Hill of Chesterfield, Tyonna Hill of Prince George, Miles Haskins of King George, and Rayden and Eris Hawkins-Hill of Pensacola, Florida; two great-great-grandchildren, Alex and Aaron Ayala of Richmond; godchildren, Rev. Frank (Alice) Worsham, Carolyn W. Spratley, Dr. James M. Ballard, Jr., Dr. James M. Ballard, III, Tre'sa M. Ballard, Natalie Harris Myers, Dr. Roy Belfield, Samuel Wilson, Bridget Graves, Penny Lyons, Mary Anderson, Raye (Phillip) Smith, Brenda Wynn, Alicia Flores, Gabriella Gonzales, Sheldon Todd Lewis, Mary Phillips, Gwendolyn Lewis and Rene Escoffery Torres; nieces, Charlene (Ronnie) Jackson, Deborah Abraham, Daphne Fobbs, Denise Butler, Nadine Jackson, Anna Bolling Epps, Thomasine Bolling Hill, Monica Warren, Brenda Jackson, Linda Coleman, Darlene Bates, Rebecca Crawley, Linda Martin, Cantrese Mayfield, Carter Urquhart, Sandra Davis, Brenda Jones, Yolanda (Warren) Maxfield, Jevone Jones, Sean Nunnally, Valerie (Kelvin) Pulliam, Joan (Howard) Merritt, Faye Jackson, Clifford (Cheryl) Greenerl, Jerinette Davis, Gwen Sellers and Sherri (Keith) Bernard; nephews, James A. Jackson, Harold Jackson, Jr., Ronald Crews, Robert Jackson, Jr., Corey Jackson, Louis Abraham, Jr., Daniel Jackson, Melvin Jackson, Jr., Aubrey (Crystal) Greenerl, Gary (Diana) Mayfield, Tramell Greenerl, Maurice Jackson, Maurice (Shana) Jackson and Phalena Washington; great nieces and nephews, Angela Williams, Donald Richardson, Jr., Milton (Michelle) Richardson, Jr., LeShauna Raines and 24 additional great nieces and nephews; lifelong friends, Annie G. McKinnon, Charlotte Huntley, Lucy (Willie) Walker, Joyce Scott, Hattie Scott, Thelma Jefferson, Barbara Todd, Jacqueline Buford, Della Bland, Russell Bland, Barbara (Edward) Douglas, Rev. Clyde Johnson, Linda Buffet, Clarissa (Beamon) Hayes, Hazel Hill, Mandy (Lee) Powers, Velma Donald, William Donald, Gale Conyers, JoAnn Mondy, Myrtle Buckner, Olivia Letts, Claude Browne and Bernice Taylor. A Celebration of Life will be held 1:00 P.M., Monday, November 2, 2020 at the Tucker & Fisher Celebration of Life Chapel, 415 Halifax St., Petersburg, VA. Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Tillman, pastor of First Baptist Church, Petersburg, VA will officiate. Interment will follow at Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg, VA. The service will be live streamed. Public viewing will be Sunday, November 1, 2020 from 12:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. COVID-19 NOTICE: Because we are celebrating the life of Mrs. Arlene T. Hill during the COVID-19 pandemic, the family requests that you put your health first and stay home if needed. If planning to attend in person, a mask is required and social distancing must be practiced. To allow for social distancing, the celebration of life service capacity is limited to 50 people, including family, with overflow space provided for an additional 20 people. The family is being served by the professional staff of Tucker & Fisher Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 415 Halifax St., Petersburg, VA 804-324-5529. Rev. Antonio A. Tucker, Sr. Funeral Director. www.tuckerandfisher.com.