Rebecca Jean Hill

Rebecca J. Hill, affectionately known as “Jean”, “Jeanie”, “Jeanie Bell”, “Hill Street Blues”, or “Myrtle” was born on January 5, 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland, to the late Charles and Pearl Hill. On Monday, August 25, 2025, at 8:43 p.m., surrounded by her family, Jean transitioned from her earthly body to her heavenly home and became an angel in heaven. Jean was the third child born of 9 children. She was the oldest girl and the boss of the “Hill Clan”. Over the years, she became the Matriarch of the family. Jean grew up in her early years in the Historical Turner Station Community, where she attended Sollers Point High School. Due to racial segregation laws of the time, this school was created specifically for black students from Turner Station and the surrounding communities. Jean began working as a nursing assistant for Church Home Hospital on July 15, 1963, and retired after 37 years on January 28, 2000. Retirement didn’t sit well with her, so she returned to the workforce. She really enjoyed working with people and especially the seniors. She started working at Belvedere Green Senior Housing for the next 5 years and permanently retired in 2007 to take care of her sister Peggy. On September 23, 1962, she became a first-time mother to her precious baby boy Cedric L. Fair who preceded her in death in 1993. But oh boy…on August 1, 1969, she gave birth to her pride & joy baby girl Carol. Jean accepted Christ at an early age and joined Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. In the late 80’s she continued her Christian journey and joined Saint Paul Community Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Gregory B. Perkins. As a long-time member of St Paul, she joined the Inspirational Choir and the Seniors’ Ministry. She was a faithful member until her health started to decline. If you knew Jean, then you knew she loved her brothers & sisters. The sisters were known as “Charlie Angel’s”. Once everyone had retired, they started an art & crafts group. The group met every Thursday, rain or shine. When Jean moved in with her daughter, the tradition continued. Jean had a heart of gold, but she was a straight shooter with no filter. You instantly fell in love with her boldness. You had to have tough skin to be in her company. She loved to cook and spent numerous hours watching all the cooking shows. Her daily line-up was Let’s Make a Deal, The Price Is Right, The Young & Restless, Bold & Beautiful, The Tamron Hall Show, The Jennifer Hudson Show, The Kamaro Show, The Sherrie Show, Big Bang Theory, and Two and A Half Men. Late night, when she should have been sleeping, was Law & Order SVU and The Golden Girls. The question was always asked “why she was allowed to sleep so late,” here’s your answer. She loved to sit on her porch in East Baltimore with her sister Vi and other neighbors. They knew all the neighborhood gossip and didn’t even have to leave the porch. It was a major adjustment when she had to move in with her daughter. In her daughter’s neighborhood, you could hear a pin drop, no action. She was her family & friends’ non-certified/non-licensed doctor. People would come to her for advice before they would go to a licensed doctor. Jean will be remembered for her generosity, her loving spirit, her kindness and the love she showed her family and friends. She is now in a place where she will have everlasting peace. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Floyd, Charles and Frank; and sisters, Peggy, Vi and Beverley. Left to cherish and share treasured memories are her devoted daughter, Carol Hartwill; loving son-in-law, Dr. Kenneth Hartwill; two amazing sisters, Carolyn Mills and Vanessa Dean (Floyd); two aunts, Dorothy Rush and Mary Vaughn; one uncle, Charles Thomas, Jr.; three grandchildren, Cedric Fair, Cedtrice Fair and Cean Fair; 7 great grandchildren, 1 great-grand, and a host of nieces and nephews and family. Special Friends and Caregivers, Helen Wilson, Ernestine Purdy, Christie Evans, and Raesean Randolph.

Tributes

Rebecca Jean Hill

January 5, 1940 - August 25, 2025