Remembering State Sen. Jack Hill

REIDSVILLE, Ga. (WTOC) - State Senator Jack Hill has passed away.

Sen. Hill, of Reidsville, Ga., was first elected to the Georgia Senate from the 4th District in 1990 and was reelected in 2018 to his 15th two-year term. The 4th Senatorial District includes: Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, part of Emanuel, Evans and part of Tattnall counties.

Hill was the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and vice chairman of Senate Rules Committee, among other positions.

Representative Buddy Carter also released a statement saying:

“I sat next to Jack Hill in the Georgia State Senate for five years. He was one of my political and personal mentors. Losing Jack is an incredible loss for me and the State of Georgia. For 30 years, Jack served Georgians with immense dedication and kindness. He was a brilliant servant of the people and he fought for his constituents each and every day. Above all, though, Jack was a friend and I am grateful for the time we shared together in the Georgia State Senate. Amy and I send our heartfelt sympathies to Ruth Ann and the Hill family. Georgia has lost a political giant and I have lost a dear friend.”

Communities across the fourth district lowered flags to half staff in memory of the man who’d represented them for almost 30 years. Local leaders say Hill was a champion of the people he served.

“If you needed something, he was a man you could come to who could tell you how to go about getting it,” said Reidsville Mayor Sydney Clifton.

Adam Kennedy from Claxton followed Hill’s decades in office when he succeeded Kennedy’s late father as senator.

“Even as powerful as he was, you could always go to Reidsville and sit down and talk with him,” Kennedy said.

As a senate chairman, Hill helped decide that state's budget each year. Colleagues say he never used that clout for political gain.

“He was very humble. He didn’t like to call attention to himself. He was always quick to give others the credit,” said Rep. Jan Tankersley, (R) - Brooklet.

All three say our region has lost a servant and a friend.

“We live in a day now where we have politicians. Jack Hill was a statesman.”

Jack Hill was 75.

Funeral arrangements remain incomplete. As soon as they’re finalized, we’ll let you know.

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