Albert ‘Sonny’ Hill
Published 10:55 pm Monday, July 2, 2018
A celebration of life for Albert “Sonny” Hill, will be Friday, July 6, 2018, at 6 p.m. at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home & Crematory in Hammond, Louisiana.
Visitation will be Friday, July 6, 2018, from 4 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
Mr. Hill, 81, died Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula with his daughter, Brenda Hill Simkins, by his side. He was born Sept. 24, 1936, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
He was a native of Louisiana. Despite cherishing family above all, he loved so many and appreciated each and every one of his family and friends, holding all dear to his heart. Whether you were family, a member of his cherished “dixie rats,” a teammate, fellow coach, one of his many players, or a friend he met along his winding journey, he always left a part of him with you.
Athletics were a big part of his life and he excelled on the field. He attended Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with his many childhood friends, including Billy Cannon, Oscar Lofton and Earl Phillips. At Istrouma, he played football, baseball, basketball and ran track. In 1957, he began his collegiate career at Copiah-Lincoln Community College where he played football and ran track. While at Copiah-Lincoln, he won many awards including being a two time All-State and two time All-American quarterback. In 1959, he was the most outstanding player of the Junior College All-American game in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and he was awarded the Los Angeles Times Junior College offensive player of the year in 1959.
After a very short stint at the University of Southern Mississippi, he finished his college career at Delta State University where he started for two years and earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree. In 1963, he began his coaching career at Pascagoula High School, followed by Holmes Junior College, Hammond High School, Delta State University and Southeastern Louisiana University. The 1971 Hammond High squad won the Louisiana state football championship.
he has been inducted into the Copiah-Lincoln Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Sports Hall of Fame.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years Charlotte Sullivan Hill; father, Albert Hill; mother, Edna Mae Hill Geise; and sisters Alberta Hill LeBlanc, Anita Hill Cope and Edna Rae Hill Gerage.
Survivors are his only daughter, Brenda H. Simkins (Steve Simkins); three grandchildren, Layken Simkins, Parker Simkins and Sawyer Simkins; brother-in-law, James L. Sullivan; and two nephews, James Robert Sullivan (Brandi Sullivan) and Michael Sullivan (Tomorrow Sullivan).
Memorials may be made to the Albert “Sonny” Hill Memorial Scholarship at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, P.O. box 649, Wesson, MS, 39191.