Mound Bayou, MS — July 26, 2023 — Bolivar County Baptist Association Congress of Christian Education Moderator, Pastor Earl V. Hall, Sr., announced today that Pastor Edward H. Hill will be the keynote speaker for the Sixth Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet to be held on Saturday, August 5, at 6:00 pm at Scooter’s Place, 304 Green Street, Mound Bayou, Miss.
Pastor Edward Hall Hill presently serves as the founder and pastor of Radical for Christ Ministries. According to Hill, he was born in Mound Bayou, Miss., to Eugene Hall, Sr. and Elena C. Hill. A 1992 graduate of Cleveland High School, Hill earned a scholarship in sports medicine and attended Mississippi Delta Community College. In 2002, he received a BS degree from Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) in Business Administration. Hill stated that while attending “The Valley”, he involved himself in numerous student activities. “Serving as the president, I was instrumental in re-establishing the MVSU Pre-Alumni Club which consisted of over 500 paid student alumni members,” stated Hill. “Also, serving as president of the Sunflower Heights Apartment Complex Council, this non-traditional student/faculty/staff campus housing was renovated at a cost of over $100,000,” continued Hill.
Hill was a member of the MVSU Student Government Association (SGA), Student Activity Board, year book staff, bookstore committee, foodservice committee, National Student Business League, Capital Campaign Committee and many more organizations. After serving two terms as MVSU Pre-Alumni president, Hill vied for and won the position of Second Vice President of the MVSU National Alumni Association. Later, he was elected as the president of the MVSU National Alumni Association; however, a new career opportunity prevented him from accepting this position. “I, along with Mr. Ed Hill, was spotlighted as MVSU Alumnus on the Move and featured in the Greenwood Commonwealth newspaper,” said Hill. “At that time, Mr. Ed Hill was the president of the Greenwood/Leflore Chamber of Commerce,” continued Hill. “Not surprising, the article was entitled, ‘Kings of the Hill’,” he mused.
“I’ve enjoyed an extensive career in the food service industry,” stated Hill. His career in higher education foodservices began with Thompson Hospitality, where he served as an intern at MVSU. In addition, he was Operations Director at Morris Brown College in Atlanta during the making of the movie “Drum Line,” and Foodservice Director at Texas College in Tyler, Texas. “I had the honor of serving former US President George Bush, Sr. during a 1000-person catering fundraiser,” stated Hill. “My career also included Southwest Operations Coordinator covering Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas while landing my first on hand account, which was University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff, Ark. and Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark.,” stated Hill. He later joined the Aramark team where he became Assistant Director at Delta State University in Cleveland and Corporate General Manager of Delta Airlines in Hapeville, Ga., where he oversaw several multi-million-dollar operations. Following his mother’s passing in 2008, Hill moved back to the Mississippi Delta and began working for the West Bolivar School District as Food Service Director. He was appointed by the Mississippi Department of Child Nutrition to several advisory boards that covered 15 counties in the State of Mississippi.
Hill is a member of the Mississippi School Nutrition Association and the National School Nutrition Association. “Following retirement in 2019, on occasions, I still find time to serve as a consultant,” said Hill. “Retirement allowed me to begin a new venture by opening my first restaurant, the Airport Café in Greenville,” stated Hill.
Hill is presently the president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter in Mound, Bayou, which encompasses Coahoma, Bolivar, Washington and Sunflower counties. He is also a board member of the Richard M. Coleman, Sr. Recreational Park, a board member of the ASM Dining and Catering Company of Memphis, former proctor of Delta State University Family and Consumer Science Department, a former state competition judge for the MS Department of Child Nutrition High School Culinary Scholarship Program, and CEO of A & M Catering Services, LLC.
According to Hill, his faith and acceptance of the Lord came at an early age while growing up in Cleveland. Having traveled extensively throughout the United States, he was most inspired by several spiritual leaders/ pastors while living in the Delta area, as his childhood pastor, Rev. C. Grainger of Old Saint Phillips in Cleveland, the late Rev. J. W. Hill, pastor of Rose Hill in Renova, and Pastor Sammie Rash of the United Baptist Church in Cleveland, where he was ordained. Many other religious leaders throughout the country impacted his life and he credits them for their great influence that they had in his becoming the person that he is today. “In 2013, I founded Radical for Christ Ministries, a non-denomination church, that continues to minister strongly within the community,” stated Hill.
Hill is the father of two adult sons, Austin E. Hill of Nashville and Malcolm J. Hill of Hattiesburg.
According to the banquet chairman, DeVoyce C. Morris, the Bolivar County Baptist Association began the scholarship awards banquet six years ago with the vision of providing scholarships to high school seniors who are members of the churches in the association. “We have awarded over $40,000 to our students in this short period of time,” stated Morris. “The purpose of the banquet is to generate funds for awarding scholarships,” she said. “We want to see our students continue their educational pursuits without having to worry about financial constraints,” she further stated. “This year, we will be awarding five scholarships to our students,” stated Patricia Bradshaw. “Students must be active members of one of the 15 churches in the Bolivar County Baptist Association to be eligible for the scholarship,” said Bradshaw.
“Each year we recognize a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), and this year we have chosen to honor Mississippi Valley State University,” continued Bradshaw. “An HBCU is a school of higher education that was accredited and established before 1964 and whose principle mission was the education of African American students,” stated Bradshaw.
For tickets and additional scholarship information, contact the Congress Dean and banquet chairman, DeVoyce C. Morris, at 662.719.0090, or the scholarship chairman, Patricia Bradshaw at 662.402.1362.
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Contact: DeVoyce C. Morris
Phone: 662.719.0090
Email: projectascend@yahoo.com
