WILMINGTON — Doris Shirley Hill, 93, of Atkinson, NC, formerly of Wilmington, died Friday, December 6, 2024, at Lower Cape Fear Hospice. She was born January 27, 1931, in Camden, SC, to the late George Wallace Shirley, Jr. and Margaret Ruth (Goodale) Shirley.
Doris raised three sons and was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother but her true passion was in flipping houses, long before flipping houses was a thing! She would buy and renovate or have her friend, David Collier, build her a house and she would do the interior design. She would decorate with her keen sense of fashion and eye for detail and then sell and start all over. This hobby served as a life-long passion; keeping her motivated and moving right up to her last project, a month ago, when she decided she was going to wallpaper and bead-board her laundry room, herself. She could often be heard saying, “I’ve always wanted to do this!” with youthful excitement. In addition to being a fabulous interior decorator she was also a huge fan of NASCAR. Doris followed Richard Petty from the beginning of his career. One of her biggest thrills was when she met Richard Childress, and he turned to the group surrounding them and said, “Folks, I want you to meet my biggest fan, Doris Hill!” She was tickled pink at that introduction and was sure to talk about it with great pride. Mostly recently her favorite drivers were the Busch brothers Kyle and Kurt.
Doris was married to the love of her life, Charles Barton Hill, Sr. for nearly 63 years before he passed away on July 12, 2012. In addition to her parents and her husband, Doris was also preceded in death by her baby brother, George Wallace, III and her grandson, C.B. Hill, III.
Doris leaves her three sons, Charles Barton Hill, Jr. and wife Karen, Keith Hill and wife Stephanie, and Jeffrey Scott Hill; grandchildren, Wesley Mathew Hill, Beth Montgomery and husband John, and Keith Hill, Jr. and wife Amy and six great-grandchildren, Ian Alexander Hill, Sophie, Polly and Maslin Montgomery, Gabrielle and Isabelle Hill.
A funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at the Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Oleander Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Dr., Wilmington, NC 28401.
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