WILMINGTON — Patricia McCollum Hill (Patti), 74, of Wilmington, NC, went to be with our Lord and Savior on May 23rd, 2026, surrounded by family and friends.
Born September 15th, 1951 in Winston-Salem, NC, she was a devoted follower of Christ and a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Wilmington, where she served as a deacon and was active in Sunday school and various Christian ministries.
Patti had a heart full of love for her two legged and four legged friends. Loving family, friends and rescuing animals was a God given gift of Patti’s. Growing up, Patti graduated from Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, NC, and attended Massey Junior College in Atlanta, Georgia. She entered the insurance business as an associate for a small brokerage firm in Winston-Salem, NC. From there she was recruited by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina to become a sales representative in the brokerage department. After a promotion, she and her husband moved to Wilmington, NC where she was a large group consultant and her husband formed David Hill and Associates Incorporated, a group benefits company. While in Wilmington, Patti continued to grow her community of friends who quickly became her extended family to whom Patti dedicated her love, devotion and fig preserves and pickles.
If you knew Patti, you knew her greatest passion was animals. A dedicated advocate for animal rescue, she gave a loving home to six dogs and five cats of her own. She spent countless hours championing rescue organizations and famously raised funds to buy bulletproof vests for canine police officers.
She was a remarkable woman whose hearts was always full of love and generosity. Even after leaving this world, she continues to care for others by donating her organs to save three lives giving her liver and two kidneys. Her profound selflessness is a guiding light for us all.
Patti and her family send their deepest thanks to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center staff in the Neuroscience ICU Department for their professionalism, kindness and compassion as we navigated the hardest decisions of our lives.
She was preceded in death by her adoptive parents Gernie Payton McCollum and Mary Atkins McCollum, adoptive brother Michael Payton McCollum and her brother in law, Bobby Hill.
She is survived by her loving husband, David Gene Hill, Jr., sister in law, Susie McCollum, mother in law, Linda Hill, step daughter and husband, Lauren and Brian James, three grandchildren, Ainsley, Sadie and Colton, step son John David Hill, nephew and wife, Brandon and Skye Hill, niece, Porter McCollum, nephew, wife and great nephew, Michael Payton McCollum, II., Emily and Tripp McCollum.
A Celebration of Life will be held on May 30th at 10:00am at First Baptist Church, Wilmington, 411 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401, with Pastor Barrett Owen officiating. A time for friends and family to gather following Patti’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Hill’s home from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Paws 4 People and/or First Baptist Church, Wilmington.
Please leave memories and condolences for Patti’s family here.
