Thomas Franklin Hill Sr

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Tommy was a hardworking man who believed in faith, family, and treating others with kindness.

Thomas “Tommy” Franklin Hill, Sr., age 85, of Water Valley, Mississippi, passed away peacefully on August 21, 2026.

Tommy was born on April 24, 1941, in Water Valley, Mississippi, to Alfred Bennett Hill, Sr. and Vearl Hensley Hill. A lifelong member of the Water Valley community, Tommy was a graduate of Water Valley High School and Northwest Community College. He proudly served as a member of the Mississippi National Guard.

Tommy was a hardworking man who believed in faith, family, and treating others with kindness. He worked as a brick mason with Hill Brothers Bricking alongside his brothers, and later owned the Home Fireplace Co. with his beloved wife, Toni. He served his community as a member of the Yalobusha County School Board, a little league coach, and an Enid Lake Clean Up and Habitat Days volunteer. As a deacon and faithful member of Water Valley First Baptist Church he taught RAs, children’s Sunday school, and cooked for the youth prayer breakfasts. He led not by seeking attention, but by quietly showing others how to live with faith, humility, and love.

Tommy and Toni shared 54 years of marriage. Through life’s joys and challenges, they stood faithfully by each other. During Tommy’s illness, Toni never left his side. Her unwavering love and devotion were a beautiful reflection of the life they shared for more than five decades. Tommy was an avid sportsman who loved the outdoors. He knew the lakes like the back of his hand and loved crappie fishing from his handmade pirogue, waterskiing, or hand grabbling for catfish. He spent a lot of time in the woods hunting deer, quail, rabbit, and squirrel.

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He led not by seeking attention, but by quietly showing others how to live with faith, humility, and love.

Other activities Tommy enjoyed were planting and harvesting his garden and watching the news, westerns, and Ole Miss football. Earlier in life, he enjoyed and won several speedwalking races. He could often be found singing in the kitchen while making pancakes and pecan pies to share with family and friends, and he was known for having a special nickname for nearly everyone he knew.

While Tommy accomplished much throughout his life, those who knew him best will cherish the simple things that made him who he was. They will remember his easy grin, his blue eyes, and his kindness. His family will hold especially dear the laughter, the backrubs, the nicknames, the fishing trips, the summer days spent shucking corn and shelling peas, the pancakes, pecan pies, and fried crappie, and all the countless ordinary moments that became precious memories. 

Tommy is survived by his beloved wife, Toni Trusty Hill; his children, Tina Hill; Thomas “Tom” F. Hill, Jr. (Carole); and Tyler Hill (Jency); his grandchildren, Madison Hill Norwood (Matthew); Layla Hill; and Ashlyn Hill Williamson (Watson); and his great-granddaughter, Hadley Mae Norwood. He is also survived by his brother, Jerry Wayne Hill, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Bennett Hill, Sr. and Vearl Hensley Hill; and his siblings, Alfred Bennett Hill, Jr.; Wayland Dean Hill, Sr.; Edwin Earl Hill; Bobby Hensley Hill; Mary Lou Hill Childress; Billy Jack Hill; and Betty Ann Hill Williams. 

Tommy’s greatest legacy will not be measured by the homes he bricked, the pancakes he cooked, or the fish he caught. It will be found in the people he loved, the faith he shared, the family he built, and the goodness he quietly gave to others throughout his life. Tommy was deeply loved, and he will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Baptist Church Water Valley or Shepherd Center Foundation, 2020 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30309.