Coleman Lyles Hill, 85, deceased on Sunday, July 28, 2024. Born in Jacksonville, FL, to Coleman Hill, Sr. and Pauline Spencer Hill. He attended Jesuit High School and was a graduate of Plant High school (1957), the University of Tampa (B.A. 1964), the University of the Virgin Islands (M.A. 1979), and the University of Illinois (PhD, 1988). Post graduate work included Eastern Illinois University, U.S.F. and London University. He retired as a school administrator from the Virgin Islands Department of Education and began a second career in Dependency Case Work. Following privatization of Foster Care Services, he retired from the Florida Department of Children and Families as a supervisor. He then retired a third time as the CBC Operations Director for the Children’s Home, Inc. During a long and distinguished career, he was a Fellow of the National Writing Project at the University of California (Berkeley) and was past chapter President of Sigma Tau Delta professional English fraternity.
He presided over numerous subordinate Masonic bodies including, Caribbean Light Lodge, Turkey Creek Masonic Lodge, Tampa-Cushing Chapter, Tampa Council, Tampa-lvanhoe Commandery, Pentagon York Rite College, The Knight Masons, the Knights of St. Andrew and Suncoast Forest (Tall Cedars). He was the District Deputy for the Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico and Served as District Grand Deputy for all York Rite Bodies in Florida, receiving the first Grand Commandery of Florida Service Award. In 2011, he was awarded the Order of the Purple Cross and appointed a Lifetime Associate Regent of The Sovereign York Rite College of North America. He was a Knight York Cross of Honor (York Rite) and Knight Commander of the Council of Honor (Scottish Rite), and recipient of the Potentate's Appreciation award (Abou Saad Shrine, Panama). He held various other Grand offices and appointments including Grand jurisprudence, Grand Pursuivant and chair of Grand Foreign Relations. He also presided over the Allied Masonic Degrees and the Valley of Tampa Consistory and was a Past Patron (Eastern Star), Past Watchman of the Shepherds (White Shrine of Jerusalem), Past Royal Patron (Amaranth), a companion of Zetland Chapter (E.C) and an Adept in the Masonic Societas Rosicrudana in Civitatibus Foederatis (Florida). He was committed to community service and was the founding President of the Frederiksted Lions Club, a Zone Chairman of the District 52 Lions Clubs of Puerto Rico, recipient of the Lion of the Year award and the Lions Clubs International Extension Award. He was a director and officer of numerous non-profit boards including the Red Cross, the U.S. Postal Committee, the Stand up Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy, the Tampa York Rite Bodies and Zendah Grotto. He served as director of the Shrine Clinics in St., Croix, Virgin Islands for a number of years. He was also one of the four founding presidents of the Caribbean Chess Federation. The State of Florida recognized his distinguished service with the Davis Productivity Award and the Governor of the State of Kentucky appointed him a Kentucky Colonel for his services to his community. He was a consecrated deacon in the ELCA and served at Apostle's Lutheran Church in Brandon, where he was past president of the church council. He is survived by his wife of 44 years (as of 2011), Marlene Hill (nee Alcee); four daughters, Daeja-Renee Hill-Riggsbee, Kirsten Hill, Ashley Hill and Gwyneth Hill; his son-in-law, James Riggsbee; two grandchildren, Azia Hill and Aidin Riggsbee, also a nephew, James Childers and numerous cousins. He was pre-deceased by his only sister, Paula Hill Childers.
Incline O Lord,
Thine ear to our prayers,
In which we humbly beseech Thy mercy,
That Thou wouldst place the soul of Thy servant,
Which Thou hast caused to depart from this world,
Into the region of peace and light;
And unite in the fellowship of Thy Saints.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at Apostles Lutheran Church, with the family receiving friends one hour prior to services. Interment will follow at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, Tampa with Masonic Services from Turkey Creek Masonic Lodge #248. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Apostles Lutheran Church.
Previous Events
Visitation
13
Aug
200 Kingsway Avenue
Brandon, FL 33510
Service
13
Aug
200 Kingsway Avenue
Brandon, FL 33510
Cemetery Details
Location
4207 East Lake Avenue
Tampa, FL 33610
