Charles “Buddy” Hill, 83
June 18, 1941 – April 6, 2025
Nettleton/Fulton-Charles W. Hill, known by all as Buddy, left his earthly pilgrimage of 83 years and transformed to his Heavenly home for eternity from his residence at Charleston Place in Fulton. A genteel man with a big heart, Buddy was born in Monroe County (Nettleton) on June 18, 1941, to the late David Hill and Mary Ellen Springer Hill. He graduated from Nettleton High School in 1959. Buddy found his spiritual foundation in Christ Jesus through the lifelong teaching and faithful service to the Nettleton Pentecostal Church, where he served many years as Sunday School Superintendent, sang in the choir, led congregational singing, and played bass fiddle. Buddy Hill was a “straight up” man, always encouraging others and sharing his faith in God. Buddy first worked for J. C. Penney out of high school before pursuing his lifelong profession as a master house painter and paper hanger. Buddy loved his work, took great pride in it, and literally painted thousands of homes and businesses over his lifetime in the mid- south, as well as Mexico, Florida, and Texas. His skills were so highly sought, he earned recognition in Architectural Digest, a nationally recognized magazine of the architectural profession. Simple, direct, and powerful, Buddy’s presence among friends and family was always met with perfect respect. After his mother’s death, Buddy became interested in genealogy and researched the Springer family’s heritage, past and present, contacting all living relatives by the time of his death. Buddy married Shirley Doucet Miller Hill on November 21, 1998, in Tupelo. They lived in the Nettleton/Plantersville/Tupelo area before moving to Charleston Place in Fulton after his health began to fail.
A service celebrating Buddy’s life will be held at 1 PM Thursday, April 10, 2025, in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Rev. Jonathan Soden, Rev. Nathan Morales, Rev. Scott Kitchens, Rev. Barron Price, and Rev. Larry Hill speaking. Burial will follow in Lee Memorial Park with twin grandsons, Tylor and Taylor Colburn, officiating the committal service. Visitation will be from 5 PM – 8PM Wednesday, April 9, and from Noon to service time on Thursday, all at Holland-Tupelo Chapel, which is honored to serve their friends. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/live-streaming at 1 PM Thursday.
Buddy is survived by his wife, Shirley, of Fulton; two children, Rhonda Swift (Joe) of Booneville and Ronnie Hill (Paula) of Spring Hill, TN; 3 bonus children by his marriage to Shirley, Shaundra Leckelt (Bryan) and Gayla Catanese (Robert) all of Evangeline, LA, and Victor Miller (Tammy) of Houma, LA; two sisters, Sue Haney of Byhalia and Kay Nichols (Mickey) of Southaven, and a brother, Larry Fooshee (Sharon) of Saltillo; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren who loved their PaPaw Buddy! He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Walter and Bell Hill, and Burley and Lois Springs; his parents, David Hill, Mary Ellen Fooshee, and Ralph Fooshee; his siblings, Roy and Dawn Fooshee; and two grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation of Mississippi, 1040 River Oaks Drive, Flowood, MS 39232. Condolences may be posted on Buddy’s obituary page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com/obits.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
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