Eartha Lee Hill

Eartha Lee Hill was born on November 23, 1942, in Sumter, SC, to the late James Arthur and Sallie Wilder Pringle.

A 1962 graduate of Lincoln High School, Eartha moved shortly thereafter to New York City with her sisters, Dorothy (Pringle) Reeves and Arthur “Artie” (Pringle) Childs. Together, they worked to provide vital support for their family back home in South Carolina. It was in New York that she married Forrest Hill, and the couple eventually welcomed their daughter, Aileen Joyce Hill, in the Bronx.

Ms. Hill dedicated her professional life to the Federal Government, beginning her career as an Administrative Assistant at the Federal Home Loan Bank Board in One World Trade Center. When her department transitioned toward the private sector, she joined the U.S. Marshals Service, where she served with distinction until her retirement in 1995.

Upon retiring, she and her twin sister, Artie, traveled often to Sumter, SC, to assist their aging parents. They later relocated from the Bronx, NY, to Sumter permanently, providing their parents with essential care until their passing.

Ms. Hill was a pillar of her community, deeply committed to service and her daughter’s education. An unwavering supporter, she attended every parent-teacher meeting and proudly witnessed every graduation ceremony. Her spiritual journey was equally vibrant; she taught Sunday School at Epworth United Methodist Church in the Bronx before joining Positive Proof Ministries in Newark, New Jersey, alongside her twin sister under Evangelist Frank Garris. Later, she served faithfully in the Senior Missionary Department at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church. A crowning moment of her faith occurred in 2010, when she traveled to Philadelphia, PA to celebrate her daughter’s ordination as Elder and Evangelist at Divine Destiny Community Fellowship under Pastors Dwaine and Minette Ross.

In the community, Ms. Eartha was an active member of the South Sumter Neighborhood Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Although her health eventually declined, her spirit remained vibrant. In her final days at Sumter East, she shared tender moments with those around her; her daughter and a nurse overheard her softly whisper, “I love to cook.” She also shared a final connection with Deaconess Mary Zimmerman, offering a gentle “okay” in response to scripture readings and prayer.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Eartha was preceded in death by her husband, Forrest Hill; and her sister, Daisy P. Gaymon.

Her earthly journey ended on Friday evening, January 16, 2026, at the Sumter East Health and Rehabilitation Center, where she peacefully gained her wings.

Ms. Hill is survived by her daughter, Elder/Evangelist Aileen Joyce Hill; three siblings, Dorothy Reeves, Arthur “Artie” Lee Childs, and William C. Pringle; and a vast circle of family, including her nieces, nephews, and cousins. Her memory will also be honored by her Jehovah church family, extended family at Active Day of Sumter, The Gardens at Sumter, and Sumter East, who provided her with companionship and care in her later years.