William Bertron "Bert" Hill, Jr.

William Bertron “Bert” Hill, Jr., 83, shuffled off this mortal coil on Friday, December 1, 2017, at Buckingham’s Choice in Buckeystown, MD.
Born November 26, 1936, at Prospect Hall, Frederick, to the late William B. Hill, Sr. and Alice Virginia Davis Hill, he was raised  and received early schooling in Bartonsville, Frederick County. Bert attended first grade at the one-room Bartonsville Elementary School before being transferred to Lincoln Elementary in Frederick.  He was a graduate of Lincoln Hign School class of 1953 and served in the US Army from 1953-1956.  He earned a  BBA degree from Federal City College, Washington, DC, in Business Law and Procurement and Public Contracting. He later attended George Washington University for graduate courses in Management. Bert spent 41 years, 9 months with the Federal Government at NIH-NIAD and with the Department of Health and Human Services where he established and coordinated that department’s EEO program.  He received recognition and numerous awards for his EEO responsibilities. He took pride in developing and maintaining his home property in Bartonsville and later applied entrepreneurial skills to a small business, “Family Portraits Forever.”  He was the archetypical family man, enjoying gatherings with family and friends and being ever ready to pitch in. He had many skills that came into play when someone needed help with a chore involving construction, wiring, business or IT advice.  His favorite past-times were fishing, playing bridge and watching westerns on TV. Bert was a member of  the Francis Scott Key Post # 11, American Legion, a charter member of the Frederick County African-American Chamber of Commerce, former 35year member of the James E. Stewart Lodge #49, Prince Hall Affiliate, where he served as Worshipful Master; helped organize the Frederick County Scholarship Aid Fund in the 1970’s  and served with the Frederick Memprial Hospital 1902 Club. He was president of the Bartonsville Community Cemetery Association for over fifty years during which time his main achievement was the formal reorganization of the old slave and free-black cemetery.  This included clearing of trees and brush, marking of burial plots, establishing operating procedures and developing funds for perpetual care and investments. Bert also initiated the first Boy Scout Troop in the community of Bartonsville at Jackson Chapel United Methodist Church. In 2008, he was awarded the Community Service Award by the New Hope Community Seven Day Adventist Church. Bert was a life member of Pleasant Grove Christian Community Church with over 60 years of active service.  He served as chairperson of the Trustee Board for fifteen years and active in several ministries. He was instrumental in procuring computers and starting a computer training program for adults. He also devoted time to tutoring math and reading skills with students.
Surviving are his wife of sixty one years, Margaret; sons William B. Hill, III and wife Rosanna, Zurich, Switzerland and Randolph Davis Hill, Singapore; daughter Alicyn Francine Hill and her son, Cameron Hill, of Bartonsville, whom Bert and Margaret raised as a son; brother, Davis Vincent Hill (Edna), Thomasville, GA; sisters Alice Beverly Ford, Frederick, and Linda Ann Bryan (Francis), Bowie, MD; eight grandchildren; five great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Kate Dorsey (Frank), brothers-in-law Wayne and Mitchell Randolph and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, especially The Rev. J. Sherman Mason, Petey Sewell, Floyd Brown, Isaac “Ike” Cole and cousin Charles Davis.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, December 9, 2017, at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD from10:00am-11:00am with service following at 11:00 am.
Memorial donations may be made to the Bartonsville Community Cemetery Association, c/o Charles B. Davis, Treasurer, 5715 Tobery Rd., Frederick, 21704. Interment will be at  Bartonsville Community Cemetery.  There will be no repast following the service.
Expressions of sympathy may be offered at StaufferFuneralHome.com.