Former River Region United Way leader Jimmy Hill dies

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Jimmy Hill, longtime leader with the River Region United Way, has died.

Hill passed with his daughters and their mother by his side, along with longtime friend and current CEO and president of the nonprofit, Jannah Bailey.

“He left his handprint on the hearts of many people that will never know what he did for them,” said Bailey.

Hill served the River Region United Way for a decade. He was the resource development director for five years and then president and CEO since 2020.

“He did an amazing job and that particular job is really the heart of what United Way does,” Bailey said. “Going out and getting funds from corporations, businesses and donors,” said Bailey.

Bailey says Hill was a quiet but fair leader, always doing what was right for the community and volunteers.

Other than filling his role, Bailey and Hill were longtime friends. She says he was like a brother to her.

“We graduated from AUM in 1983 and that’s where we met. He was a SigEp at AUM and I was a little sister,” said Bailey.

They would hike together, and even traveled to Tokyo to advocate for polio.

Bailey held her friend’s hand as he took his last breath Monday night. She says he had been battling an illness for months.

Moving forward, Bailey has been inspired by Hill to be a better leader and friend.

“You can’t teach a servant heart and you can’t teach a good friend. I want to be as good of a friend to people that he was to me,” said Bailey.

Jimmy Hill was 62.

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