[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 95 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E532-E533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING MRS. ANNETTE TILLMAN HILL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 4, 2026

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. 
Annette Tillman Hill, a native of Copiah County who is known for being 
a distinguished educator, counselor, civic leader, and community 
advocate.
  Mrs. Hill began her educational journey at Center Hill Elementary 
School, attended Piney Woods for junior high school, and graduated from 
Utica Institute High School. She entered Tougaloo College in the fall 
of 1952 at just fourteen years old and graduated in 1956 at the age of 
eighteen. While attending Tougaloo, she was initiated into the Gamma 
Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Mrs Hill was inducted in 
the Tougaloo College Hall of Fame in 2015. She also served as Regional 
Chairperson for the Bush Challenge National Alumni Giving Fund and 
remains an active member of the Tougaloo National Alumni Association.
  Following graduation, Mrs. Hill began her career as a Science and 
Mathematics teacher at Parrish High School in Hazlehurst, where she 
taught for four years. She later relocated to Chicago and continued her 
work in education at Wendell Phillips High School, serving both as a 
Science and Mathematics teacher and later as a school counselor. During 
this time, she earned a Master of Education degree in Guidance and 
Counseling from Chicago State University.
  In 1971, Mrs. Hill returned to Mississippi to serve as a counselor at 
Jackson State University. While at Jackson State University, she served 
on numerous committees and boards,

[[Page E533]]

including the Committee for Health Professions and Recruitment and the 
Advisory Board for St. Dominic Mental Health Center's Task Force for 
Children, where she helped assess community needs and recommend 
services for undeserved youth and families.
  In 1982, Mrs. Hill returned to the Hazlehurst City School District as 
a high school counselor, a position she held until retirement. During 
her tenure at Hazlehurst High School, she played a pivotal role in 
establishing the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) 
program, which remains an important and successful component of the 
school today. She also served on the ROTC Scholarship Committee, 
helping students access educational and leadership opportunities.
  Beyond education, Mrs. Hill has consistently demonstrated unwavering 
dedication to civic engagement and community improvement. She is a 
devoted member of NAACP and previously served as secretary and vice 
president of the Hazlehurst branch. She represented Copiah County on 
the Central Mississippi Red Cross Board and served as Copiah County 
FEMA Chairperson. Her civic leadership also includes service on the 
Copiah County Board of Economic Development, the Hazlehurst Zoning 
Board as secretary, and the Board of Directors of the Hazlehurst Unit 
of the Boys and Girls Club.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. 
Annette Tillman Hill, for her steadfast commitment to education, 
mentorship, faith, and public service. She stands as an exemplary 
leader whose legacy of service and compassion merits recognition.

                          ____________________