Billy Wayne Hill Sr. Pagetopper

Billy Wayne Hill Sr.

Billy Wayne Hill Sr.

Born: Sept. 18, 1944 Johnston County, NC
Died: June 5, 2024 Wilson, NC
Buried: New Jerusalem Free Will Baptist Church, Kenly, Johnston County, NC
Married: Bonnie Gail Brewer on Jan. 12, 1968
Married: Sarah Elizabeth Eason on Nov. 12, 1976

Billy Wayne Hill Sr., son of Tonie and Ludie Edwards Hill, was born on September 18, 1944, in Johnston County, North Carolina.

He was one of six children, including Ralph Hill, Josephine "Jo" Hill Parrish, Phillip Ray Hill, and Geraldine "Jeri" Hill Lewis.

Billy Wayne served his country in the National Guard. Professionally, he worked as an electrician for a period. In his younger years, he found great enjoyment in fishing and hunting. Later in his life, after his time as an electrician, he also engaged in farming.

His personal life saw two marriages.

1968 Johnston County marriage registry entry for Billy Wayne Hill and Bonnie Gail Brewer (Part 1: Groom and Bride details) 1968 Johnston County marriage registry entry for Billy Wayne Hill and Bonnie Gail Brewer (Part 2: Ceremony and Witnesses)
Johnston County Marriage Registry (1968) for Billy Wayne Hill and Bonnie Gail Brewer
Recorded in Johnston County by Braxton Creech, magistrate. Witnesses listed: Sue Hill and Christine Creech. Source: Johnston County Register of Deeds, image 276 of 626

On January 12, 1968, Billy Wayne married Bonnie Gail Brewer, with Braxton Creech officiating the ceremony. Witnesses were Sue Hill and Christine Creech. Bonnie was born to Uliess David and Lora Gertrude Brewer on April 30, 1949. This marriage concluded in divorce on April 11, 1974, in Wilson, North Carolina.

1976 Johnston County marriage registry entry for Billy Wayne Hill and Sarah Elizabeth Eason (Part 1: Groom and Bride details) 1976 Johnston County marriage registry entry for Billy Wayne Hill and Sarah Elizabeth Eason (Part 2: Ceremony and Witnesses)
Johnston County Marriage Registry (1976) for Billy Wayne Hill and Sarah Elizabeth Eason
Recorded in Johnston County by Oscar H. Martin, magistrate. Witnesses listed: Raymond Jones and Mrs. Raymond Jones. Source: Johnston County Register of Deeds, image 111 of 244

Billy Wayne then married Sarah Elizabeth Eason on November 12, 1976, in Johnston County. Sarah is the daughter of James Allen Eason. This union resulted in one child, Billy Wayne Hill Jr., born in 1977.

Above all, Billy Wayne was known for his love of Southern traditions and camaraderie. Nothing brought him greater happiness than being beside a pig cooker, surrounded by friends and family at a "pig pickin'." He was also an avid musician, often seen strumming his guitar and playing bluegrass music.

Billy Wayne Hill Sr. passed away at the age of 79 on June 5, 2024, at Wilson Healthcare and Rehab in Wilson, North Carolina. He is buried in the New Jerusalem Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery in Kenly.

— Renn Stancil Hinton, daughter of George Ralph Stancil