John Fletcher Hill |
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| Fletcher’s children with Bertha Sasser Hill |
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| John Frederick Hill May 20, 1922-May 20, 1973 NC |
John Fletcher Hill was born Aug. 23, 1893. He was Tempy Ann and Fred Hill's fourth child following an unnamed baby, Delia and Ronia.
Fletcher was the oldest son of Tempy Ann Stancil and Fred Hill. Fletcher went to school at the Boyette slave house. Some say he was the best looking of all the brothers according to niece Mavis, Millard’s daughter.
He had lots of black wavy hair. Alice, daughter of Ronia, recalled the day she looked across the field and saw Fletcher coming to visit Ronia and the attractive figure he cut. He was known as a graceful dancer.
Fletcher was drafted in World War I. He joined the Army and was sent overseas to France.
When Fletcher returned, he sold and delivered gasoline and oil for the Texaco Station in Kenly.
He had a reputation as an honest man. Fletcher was a member of Stancil's Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. Fletcher was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the American Legion.
He met Bertha, a nurse, who was part of high society in Kenly. Her parents were Martha Lou Howell and William Arthur Sasser. In 1910, her pa was a successful farmer in Wayne County. She was number nine of 11 children. When Fletcher married Bertha on July 3, 1918, Fletcher moved up in society.
Fletcher drove a truck for Neusom Narron at one time. Then he worked in Kenly delivering gasoline. Fletcher's wife was called "Bert" and according to some, a mean woman with an ugly disposition. She and Fletcher often ate with Zilphia and Millard but never had them to dinner. Bertha also never offered to help clean up. She arrived dressed too pretty to do any work!
Fletcher and "Bert" had one son John Frederick Hill, born May 20, 1922, in Beulah Township, Johnston County, North Carolina. Bert loved buttermilk and visited Zilphia and Millard in anticipation of some good buttermilk. She would brush off the porch steps, sit down, enjoying her pint of buttermilk.
Bert ignored her son, John Frederick, who ran wild, often grabbing the only tube of toothpaste from the house and feeding it to the mule!
One day at Millard's dinner table, Bert announced that if Millard and Zilphia came to her house, they should not expect a good dinner. Zilphia never had her for dinner again. Bertha felt like she was higher class and in high society of Kenly.
When Nancy, Arnettie and Fred’s daughter, had vacation time away from the orphanage, she would be taken to Fletcher’s house in Kenly. He lived on Alford Avenue. Fletcher would pick up Nancy from the porch of his house. Bert never invited her inside the house. Fletcher would take her to Millard's lane and let her out with her little suitcase for the long walk down the lane. It seemed odd that Nancy was never allowed to stay with Fletcher and Bert even one night. Bert just would not allow it!
While working in Kenly, Fletcher met Lucille Lawerence Ellis and was completely captivated by her. Lucille was 12 years younger than Fletcher. She was pretty, smart and kind, unlike his wife, Bert. But Lucille was also married. Lucille and Waylon Scott Ellis lived on Rail Road Street in Kenly. Waylon was a retail grocer in Kenly. He was the son of John William Ellis and Anna L. Scott and was born in Wilson, North Carolina.
After a time, Fletcher was overcome with the pressure of a secret mistress and a wife. Bert wanted him to account for every minute away from her. The gravity of the situation required a solution. Finally he talked to Millard in confidence. Fletcher confessed to Millard that he was involved with Lucille Ellis, the love of his life. He contrasted Lucille and Bert. Lucille was loving and down to earth while Bert was controlling, demanding and selfish. He went on to say that as soon as Bertha found out she would kill him.
Fletcher was stoic when he quietly told Millard that he had decided the only solution was suicide. Fletcher would not listen to reason. Fletcher just told Millard to come up to his office at exactly 8 a.m. on Saturday. When Millard arrived promptly at 8 a.m., the police stopped him and refused to allow him to go upstairs because Fletcher’s body was still there. Fletcher had killed himself with a single shot.
Police found that before Fletcher killed himself, he wrote three letters; one to Bert, one to the undertaker that included a list of songs he wanted sung at his funeral and one to the company. Bertha was a "bitch," according to family members. Millard had bought Fletcher's shares of the land and was paying him off as he could. After Fletcher died, Bertha demanded the $200 from Millard right now.
Fletcher died Oct. 29, 1932, and is buried in Kenly Cemetery.
Bert died Oct. 24, 1952, and is also buried in Kenly Cemetery.
In 1934, Ralph Stancil was in a store, the people there thought he was Fletcher Hill's brother. Ralph and Fletcher were first cousins. Fletcher was oldest son of Tempy Ann and Fred. Fletcher was 13 years older than Ralph.
— Renn Stancil Hinton, George Ira Branch
J. Fletcher Hill- b. 23 Aug 1893, d. 29 Oct 1932, Age 39, 10 a.m.
Gas Truck Driver for 15 years
Suicide, pistol shot head
Doctor: Coleman, Kenly, NC
Informant: P. Hales, Kenly, NC
Undertaker: Grizzard, Kenly, NC
Burial: Kenly Cemetery, Kenly, NC, October 30, 1932
Parents: Fred Hill & Tempie Stancil; Husband of Bert Hill