HONORING MRS. ANNETTE TILLMAN HILL

On 2026-06-04, Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS-2) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING MRS. ANNETTE TILLMAN HILL" in the House.

HONORING MRS. ANNETTE TILLMAN HILL

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E532-E533] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING MRS. ANNETTE TILLMAN HILL ______ HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON of mississippi in the house of representatives Thursday, June 4, 2026 Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Annette Tillman Hill, a native of Copiah County who is known for being a distinguished educator, counselor, civic leader, and community advocate. Mrs. Hill began her educational journey at Center Hill Elementary School, attended Piney Woods for junior high school, and graduated from Utica Institute High School. She entered Tougaloo College in the fall of 1952 at just fourteen years old and graduated in 1956 at the age of eighteen. While attending Tougaloo, she was initiated into the Gamma Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Mrs Hill was inducted in the Tougaloo College Hall of Fame in 2015. She also served as Regional Chairperson for the Bush Challenge National Alumni Giving Fund and remains an active member of the Tougaloo National Alumni Association. Following graduation, Mrs. Hill began her career as a Science and Mathematics teacher at Parrish High School in Hazlehurst, where she taught for four years. She later relocated to Chicago and continued her work in education at Wendell Phillips High School, serving both as a Science and Mathematics teacher and later as a school counselor. During this time, she earned a Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling from Chicago State University. In 1971, Mrs. Hill returned to Mississippi to serve as a counselor at Jackson State University. While at Jackson State University, she served on numerous committees and boards, [[Page E533]] including the Committee for Health Professions and Recruitment and the Advisory Board for St. Dominic Mental Health Center's Task Force for Children, where she helped assess community needs and recommend services for undeserved youth and families. In 1982, Mrs. Hill returned to the Hazlehurst City School District as a high school counselor, a position she held until retirement. During her tenure at Hazlehurst High School, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program, which remains an important and successful component of the school today. She also served on the ROTC Scholarship Committee, helping students access educational and leadership opportunities. Beyond education, Mrs. Hill has consistently demonstrated unwavering dedication to civic engagement and community improvement. She is a devoted member of NAACP and previously served as secretary and vice president of the Hazlehurst branch. She represented Copiah County on the Central Mississippi Red Cross Board and served as Copiah County FEMA Chairperson. Her civic leadership also includes service on the Copiah County Board of Economic Development, the Hazlehurst Zoning Board as secretary, and the Board of Directors of the Hazlehurst Unit of the Boys and Girls Club. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Annette Tillman Hill, for her steadfast commitment to education, mentorship, faith, and public service. She stands as an exemplary leader whose legacy of service and compassion merits recognition. ____________________