James Hill Jr.

1941 - 2021

James Hill Jr. obituary, 1941-2021, Chicago, IL

James Hill Obituary

Hill, Jr., James

James Hill, Jr., entered into eternal rest on Thursday, December 23 rd , 2021, in the comfort of his own home. He was born on August 20, 1941, in Baltimore, Maryland to the late James Hill, Sr. and Joyce Lee (Woodward) Hill. James was educated in Baltimore public schools and a graduate of Dunbar High School. He graduated from Central State University with a B.S. in accounting in 1964 and received his MBA in personnel administration and accounting in 1967 from the University of Chicago. James began his career as a cost accountant for Union Carbide in Niagara Falls, New York. After receiving his MBA., he began working for Alexander Grant & Company (Grant Thornton) and was the firm's first African-American auditor in 1967. Between 1968 and 1970, Hill worked as the deputy director of the Chicago Economic Development Corporation while owning several car wash businesses. After passing the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam he founded his own accounting firm in 1972, Hill, Taylor, LLC, located in Chicago, IL, and then subsequently merged his firm and retired as a partner with Mitchell & Titus, LLP. Extremely active in the Chicago business and philanthropic community, he received numerous awards and honors for both his professional and community work. His professional affiliations included the Association of International Certified Accountant, the Illinois CPA Society, the National Black Association of Accountants, and the National Black MBA Association as a founding member. He was a board member of various community and nonprofit organizations, including the Illinois Institute of Technology, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Better Government Association, Citizen Information Service, the Chicago Commons Association, the Economic Club of Chicago, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, and the Chicago Economic Advisory Committee. He also was a council member to the graduate business schools at both the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois. James was preceded in death by his sister, Janet (Hill) Jenkins and his brother, Warner Hill. James leaves to cherish his memory his devoted sons, James Hill, III (Mary), and Dr. Brian Hill, Sr. of Homewood, IL, his former wife Sheree Franklin of Chicago, Illinois, his loving stepdaughter Brittany Hogan of St. Louis, Missouri, and the mother of his children Gloria Fields, Niagara Falls, NY. He also leaves to his legacy seven grandchildren, Chrisheena Hill, Albany, NY, James Hill IV, Homewood, IL, Brian Hill, Jr. (Margaret), Chicago, IL, Jacqueline Hill, Chicago, IL, Lauren Hill, Joliet, IL, Ashley Dieudonne McDaniels, Columbia, MD, Matthew Dieudonne, Jacksonville, NC, as well as three great-grandchildren, McKenzie Fizer, Christian Hill and Laurence Williams, as well as a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and close friends.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 22, 2022, 3:00 PM at Rainbow PUSH, 930 E. 50 th Street, Chicago, IL 60615. All guests MUST wear a mask while inside the building.

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Published by Chicago Sun-Times on Jan. 16, 2022.
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In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always. From your classmate and life long friend.

Friends and classmates of Dunbar High School Class of 1959

School

January 10, 2023

Deeply miss you my Brother. Memories from our days in business school, you as a groomsman in my wedding, starting our own firms, our rich lifelong friendship and your love of and pride in your family live on.

David Baker Lewis

Friend

January 10, 2023

I always enjoyed working with James - he had a great sense of humor, was always thoughtful and he is missed. We would often chat about Baltimore as we both had a history there. My thoughts are with his family today.

Alan Cramb

Work

January 4, 2023

Jim's name and the work he did for and in the Accounting profession will live long after he has transitioned. Safe travels Jim.

Willie Carrington

Work

January 23, 2022

My condolences to the family

MyJhune Morris

Work

January 22, 2022

Most sorry to hear of his passing...

I hope his work will continue...

Joseph Johnson

January 22, 2022

You will be sorely missed as a friend and my big cousin who inspired me to go to college. My Mama Aunt Emily was so proud of you and all your accomplishments. That put a burning desire in me to further my education and make our family proud to have more college graduates in our family. Rest In Peace big cousin you set the bar high for the rest of us and we loved you for it. I deeply enjoyed the relationship that we shared and I will miss you. Family l love you all.

Denise Curbeam

Family

January 18, 2022

James was a good friend and a great supporter of our university. He was always positive and wished the best for everyone. I always appreciated and valued his thoughts and suggestions. He will be missed by all, but for those who received his guidance, this is a great loss. I will always remember his friendly demeanor, thoughtfulness, intuition, and, his desire for everyone to grow and understand each other.

Alan Cramb

School

January 18, 2022

To the family of James Hill, You have my sincere sympathy. I first met James at PS# 135, in kindergarten. We We progressed through elementary and high school together. I remember him as being a friendly, kind and considerate person. Later in life when our paths crossed again at high school reunions, James had not changed!(Low keyed, determined and focused). He played an important part in our Dunbar High School class reunions. We will miss him greatly! May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

Audrey Parker

January 18, 2022

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Memorial service

3:00 p.m.

Rainbow PUSH

930 E. 50 th Street, Chicago, IL

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