Dovie Hill, nee Roberts, was born at Monticello, Georgia on September 15, 1915. Her mother, Sarah Clements Roberts, a homemaker who took beauty courses from Madame Walker's husband, was born at Monticello in August 1893 (died October 15, 1962). Her father, Jimmy Roberts, an employee of the New York Central Railroad, was born at Monticello and died at Urbana. She was married to Sam Hill (died 1968), and they had three children. She lived in Urbana from 1929 to 1937 and then moved to Detroit, Michigan for two years prior to returning to Urbana. She attended the University of Illinois in the mid-1930s and received a cosmetology certificate from Ruby's Beauty School in Detroit, Michigan in 1939. She has worked as a day care operator, a housekeeper, a dress maker, and a Head Start classroom supervisor. She has been a member of Bethel AME Church since 1928, where her service has included the choir, Sunday School, secretary, Stewards Board, and Young People's Supervisor. Her affiliations have included OES, NCNW, Eight Beta's Social Club, Home Extension Club, and Community Mothers Club. She has received numerous awards.
Davie Hill continued her education while she worked as a beautician in her home. She received an associate's degree from Parkland College at the age of 52. She served as supervisor at The Frances Nelson Home for Children until the family moved to Liberia, West Africa, in 1963. She returned home to work for the new Headstart Program as a Center Supervisor and retired from Headstart after 13 years. Davie has been a member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for almost eighty years and has held many offices in the Church and its Church School.
She was a charter member of the National Council of Negro Women, Champaign County section.
Sources: National Council of Negro Women, Charter Members Remembered, 2008
