Helen Hogan Hill

2009-11-12

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She was born Nov. 5, 1905, on a cotton farm in Fayette County, GA, to G. and Nancy Wilkins, and learned to count helping her mother pay workers for picking cotton. At 14, she was sent to Georgia State Normal School in Athens, a boarding school that soon became part of the University of Georgia. After World War II, she obtained a teacher’s degree from Oglethorpe University. In the 1920�s she became the first Home Demonstration Agent in White County, GA and owned one of the first automobiles produced with a self-starter. She moved to Canton, GA in the same role, and there she married Alton P. Hogan, whose family was involved in the ownership of the Canton Cotton Mills. The family moved to Marietta in 1940 and started its own textile industry. After World War II, Mrs. Hill became the supervisor of lunchrooms for the Marietta school system, and held that position for many years until her retirement. In later life, she married George H. Hill of Atlanta, who lived but six months after the marriage. She soon moved to Canterbury Tower.

Mrs. Hill is survived by her two sons, A. Paul Hogan and his wife Charlene, and G. W. Hogan and his wife Elaine of Sanibel Island, FL and by seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Paul retired as managing editor of The Tampa Tribune, and G retired after serving the state of Georgia as finance director, state properties director, State Auditor, and then representing all of the state’s interests in the 1996 Olympics.

  As her age climbed past 100, Mrs. Hill often asked how she achieved longevity, and she always responded, “Just keep on breathing.� She never smoked, and very, very seldom touched alcohol. One of her sons once described her as “in charge of North Georgia� and those in the audience who know her said, “You are exactly right about Helen. If you did anything, you limited her jurisdiction.�

A Graveside Service will be held Monday, November 16, 2009 at 2:00 PM at New Hope Church Cemetery, Fayetteville with Rev. Hugh Kirby officiating.

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