Obituary: Mary Lou Hill
Mary Lou Hill, 83, died October 17, 2026, at her home in Kinston.
Born April 3, 1943, to Louise Ball and Kermit Raphael Whaley, Mary Lou was the fourth daughter of her parents’ six children. She grew up in Jones County at Hargett’s Crossroads.
She graduated in 1961 from Jones Central High School in Trenton and attended Troutman’s School of Cosmetology in Raleigh.
Since 1973, Mary Lou has been a member of Westminster United Methodist Church.
While her children were students at Northwest Elementary School and Arendell Parrott Academy, she served as grade mother, drove carpool, and made sure that Michael and Mary Margaret were at their after-school activities.
Mary Lou loved to browse in antique shops for vintage teacups and saucers, she especially wanted the ones engraved with “occupied Japan” on them.
As an avid reader, she enjoyed browsing the community news, weddings and obituary sections in The Free Press, Kinston’s local newspaper.
She loved theater and years past, bought season tickets at Raleigh’s Memorial Auditorium, to attend the touring Broadway shows. She also frequented Kinston’s musical theater events and pageants. A long-time Billy Joel fan, she attended a few of his concerts.
When her children were teenagers, Mary Lou joined the Caswell Developmental Center staff, working directly with the residents, for 25 years. After retiring, she entered Caswell’s retirement pool and worked occasionally and then joined Caswell Center's Foster Grandparent program.
Mary Lou was also a teacher’s assistant at WUMC’s pre-school for a brief time, and a foster grandparent for Green Lamp’s pre-kindergarten program.
Mary Lou was pre-deceased by her father, Kermit Raphael Whaley; mother, Louise Ball Whaley; sister, Ann Whaley Mincey and husband, Durwood Mincey; sisters, Evelyn Whaley Russell and Joyce Whaley. Plus, former husband, Daniel Edward Hill.
Survivors include: her children, Michael Edward Hill (Jimi) and Mary Margaret Hill; her grandchildren, Graham Hill, William Hill (Tiffany), and Ashley Hill. Also surviving are her sister, Inez Whaley Williams (Kenneth); brother, Dr. Cy Whaley; brother-in-law, Dan Russell; and one aunt and uncle, cousins, nieces and nephews who she loved all very much.
A service will be held at 3 pm. Saturday, October 24, at Westminster United Methodist Church, 1001 Westminster Lane, Kinston, NC, followed by a reception in the church’s fellowship hall.
The family of Mary Lou Hill expresses special thanks to her neighbors, family, and especially her niece, Leigh Hill Barbee, for sitting with her and Gentiva Hospice Care.
Memorial contributions may be made to WUMC, PO Box 1007, Kinston, NC 28503; the Lenoir County SPCA, 3200 Hwy 258 N, Kinston, NC 28504; or Lucky Cats of Kinston C/O Lake Norman Realty, 20117 West Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031.
