11/06/2018
Eulalia Montgomery Hill Allen, 100, noted educator and community servant, passed on October 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The funeral for Mrs. Hill Allen will be held at the Weldon Auditorium, 315 E. Saunders Street, Gladewater, Texas on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Viewing will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by a service by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Zeta Omega Chapter, Longview, Texas. Burial at the Mast Cemetery in Garrison, Texas.
Eulalia was born in Timpson, Texas on July 2, 1918, the first born of six children of Charles Henry Montgomery and Mary Steptoe Montgomery. She grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana and attended Louisiana Collegiate Institute where her father was principal. She attended Tuskegee University and received her Bachelor’s degree from Texas College, Tyler, Texas and a Master’s degree from Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas.
She married Garfield Hill, principal of Marian Anderson School in Joaquin, Texas where she also taught. Three children were born to the Hills in Joaquin: Winston, Brenda and Sharon. Garfield became an ordained minister, and Eulalia played for and directed his church choirs.
In 1953, the Hills moved to Gladewater, Texas where Garfield served as principal of Weldon High School and pastored several churches. Their fourth child, Rhonda, was born in Gladewater. Eulalia was a gifted English teacher and coached the debate team first at Weldon and later at Gladewater High School until her retirement. She played for several church choirs, including Moses Chapel CME Church, where Rev. Hill pastored and New Mountain CME Church. They were both active in church, school and the community. Rev. Garfield Hill passed in 1988. After several years, Eulalia married Donald Allen, a retired principal from Nacogdoches, Texas, and they traveled and led an active life until his death in 2005.
Among her many civic and community activities, Eulalia served as president of the Gladewater Chamber of Commerce, member of the United Way Board of Directors, District President of the Stewardess Board of the Longview-Marshall District in the Christian Methodist Church and community representative of the District Wide Education Improvement Council, Gladewater Independent School District. She received many honors and awards for her service.
Eulalia is survived by her brother, Lorenzo Montgomery, Houston, Texas; daughters: Brenda Hill Cole (Thomas), Atlanta, Georgia, Sharon Hill Cranford, Wichita, Kansas and Rhonda Hill Saldivar (Ernest) of Houston, Texas; grandchildren: Charlton Cranford (Mysheu), Corey Cranford, Kelley Cole Graham (Romero), Thomas Cole III, Hovlyn Hill May (Dan), Heather Hill, Marc Arthur Hill and Mari-Eulalia Saldivar; great grandchildren: Grant May, Emerald May, Amelia May, Charlton Cranford, Jr. Caden Cranford, Christian Cranford, Richard Torres, III, Isabella Torres, Ava Graham and Samantha Graham. Also mourning her loss is a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and former students. Her son, Winston and wife, Carolyn, son-in-law, Evies Cranford, great grandson, Collin Cranford and four brothers predeceased her.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Weldon Alumni Association, 3944 W. Commerce, Gladewater, Texas 75647
Final arrangements entrusted to Sadler Funeral Home, 200 Shawnee Street, Nacogdoches, Texas 75961.
