Daphne Hill

WILSON - Mary Daphne Raper Hill, 101, died Monday, December 26, 2005, at her home. She was born on October 7, 1904, in Wilson County to the late James Gray and Cora Boyette Raper. After graduation from Wilson High School, she attended Salem College in Winston Salem and was in the class of 1926. In 1924, she made her debut at the Terpsichorean Ball in Raleigh where she met her future husband, James Allen Hill. For part of the time during her 46 marriage, they lived in Raleigh and were active in Edenton Street United Methodist Church. Mrs. Hill had a great love and appreciation for flowers and created exquisite arrangements for family, friends and community. After her husband's death in 1976, she returned to Wilson where she remained for the rest of her life. In Wilson, she was a member of First United Methodist Church. Surviving are her daughter, Bettie Clyde "Bootsie" Bissette and her husband, Paul Branch Bissette, Jr. of Wilson; son, James Allen "Jimmy" Hill Jr. and his wife, Harriet Tomlinson Hill of Raleigh; grandchildren, Paul Branch Bissette III and his wife, Jill, of Gastonia; James Robert Bissette and his wife, Wyette, of Wilson, James Allen Hill, III and his wife, Rachel, of Lima, Peru, Charles Martin Hill of Raleigh; four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank Mrs. Hill's special caregivers: Rae Brantley, Judy Rogers, Bernice Deans, Deloris Bailey and the nurses and aids with Community Home Care and Hospice, Inc. Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 1423, Wilson, NC 27894 or to Community Home Care and Hospice, Inc, 1604 Forest Hills Rd, W, Wilson, NC 27893. Funeral, Thursday, 11:00 AM, Maplewood Cemetery, Old Section. The family will be at Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Drive N, Wednesday, from 7:00 - 8:00 PM.