Dr. Henry Willis Hill

Dr. Henry Willis Hill died at his home in Mableton, Georgia, on February 15, 2012, at the age of 84. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Marietta with Rev. Denise Beltzner officiating. Burial will follow at Kennesaw Memorial Park Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy “Dot” Evans Hill of Marietta; and he is survived by his wife, Mary Anderson Hill of Mableton, his son John Evans Hill and daughter-in-law Linda Hill of Jasper, his daughter Susan Hill Barrows and son-in-law Tom Barrows of Atlanta, step-sons John and Bill Anderson, step-daughter Mary York, grandchildren Thomas, Adam, Amy, April, Shannon, Justin, Kelly, Jeremiah and Amber; 8 great-grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and 3 brothers, John Hill and William Hill both of Mississippi; and Robert Hill of Marietta; Dr. Hill was a resident of Cobb County since 1954, and was a longtime educator who served as principal of both Blackwell (the first school in Cobb County to be integrated) and Kincaid Elementary schools. He was a member and past President of the Marietta Rotary Club, and received numerous awards including Rotarian of the Year four times and award for sixty years of continuous service. He was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church of Marietta. Dr. Hill earned a BA and MA from Emory University, and a Ph.D from UCLA, where he studied under his mentor, Dr. John Goodlad. He was the author of several books, both on his own and in collaboration with Dr. Goodlad. He was a pioneer in open-classroom and child-centered education, and developed educational models still in use today. A World War II Army veteran, he also served as a Lieutenant in the Georgia National Guard. As a builder, he developed several subdivisions in Cobb County. He served as a senior political advisor for Senator Johnny Isakson. Contributions may be made in loving memory of Dr. Hill to the Rotary Club of Marietta, P.O. Box 711, Marietta, GA 30061. Family will receive friends from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Saturday at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home & Crematory in Marietta, Georgia. www.mayeswarddobbins.com

Dr. Henry Willis Hill

July 10, 1927 - February 15, 2012