Rev. Dennis Hill was born on Thursday, February 7, 1952 to the late LJ Hills and Lucretia Banks-Hills in Belzoni, Mississippi. The family relocated to Chicago, Illinois in 1955. He was the seventh of eight children and from an early age was inquisitive and 0utgoing.

At a very young age, Rev. Hill accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at Greater Open Door Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago, IL. He graduated from Robert Lindblom Technical High School of Chicago, IL in June 1970, where he met and later married Rev. Cynthia (Green) Hill and from their union four children were born, Valencia, Victoria, Vanessa and Dennis Vernon. To this day, one of his most celebrated roles and well-earned titles is being an extremely loving father and grandfather.

Rev. Hill graduated from Judson College in June 1974 with a B.A. in Human Relations, during which time he accepted his call to the ministry while serving as a deacon of Progressive Baptist Church of Elgin, IL under Rev. T. DeWitt Smith, Jr. Shortly after graduating from Judson College, he attended Northern Theological Baptist Seminary in Lombard, IL. He was ordained in 1977.

Pastor Hill founded New Life Baptist Church of Elgin, IL in 1978 after a brief pastorate of Progressive Baptist Church of Elgin. At New Life, he had a dynamic preaching ministry full of life and love. He helped to unite churches across ethnic and denominational lines through frequent fellowships and outreach initiatives. God allowed him to sponsor many concerts to spread the gospel through song with artists such as: Albertina Walker, Inez Andrews, The Barrett Sisters, Soul Children of Chicago, and Rev. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Singers.

Rev. Hill’s hard work, love of life and people opened the door for him to have an impact on thousands of lives. While pastoring, he had a full-time career at Elgin Mental Health Center where he made life-long friendships. He changed the lives of patients by sharing meals with his family and also bringing his family to sing to them. He spent time volunteering in the community for young mothers and working with School District U-46.

Rev. Hill served as Assistant Pastor at Logan Street MB Church under Pastor Truman B. Hazelwood and subsequently as Pastor for 2 years before relocating to Galena, Illinois.

Rev. Dennis Hill married his wife Mary Hill on February 16, 2002. He retired and moved to Galena in December of 2002 and went on as the founding pastor of Lord of Love Lutheran Church (Galena, IL) in 2010. Rev. Dennis was a member of the United Churches of Galena Council and Illinois Synod of Lutheran Churches, and an active member of the Galena Elks Club. He graduated from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa in 2012 and was a substitute teacher in area schools around Galena. He enjoyed playing golf, riding bikes, and playing basketball with the many, many friends he had made over the years and loved living in scenic Galena.

In 2016, Rev. Dennis retired (for the second time) and with his wife Mary relocated to central Florida where he became an active member of the National Ataxia Foundation and started the area's local Ataxia support group.

On November 19, 2021, Rev. Dennis Hill was called from his earthly home to be with our Heavenly Father. Rev. Dennis Hill loved God, loved life, loved people, and loved giving others a good laugh.

Rev. Dennis Hill was preceded in death by his parents, Lucretia Banks-Hills and LJ Hills, his brothers Willie Hills, Lewis Hills Jr., Billy Hill, and his sister Lucretia Fergusen. He leaves to cherish his memory; his wife Mary Hill; his children Rev. Valencia (Adegoke) Adetunji, Min. Victoria (Gregory) Pipkin, Pastor Vanessa (Daniel) Holland, and Rev. Dennis Vernon (Erica) Hill; his stepdaughter Paula (Ray) Rhoden; eleven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three siblings: Betty Hill-Finley, Valen Jean Hill, and Ruby Everage; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends and loved ones.

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