Virgie Mae Hill, affectionately called BeBe by her family, was born in Mercer, Tennessee on

July 7, 1935. During the Great Black Migration, Virgie moved to Dayton, Ohio with her family as a

teenager, graduating from Roosevelt High School. Thereafter, she attended the University of Dayton

while working for the Dean of Education to help pay for her school expenses. Later, Virgie accepted a

position with The Dayton Urban League, a civil rights organization, where she held the positions of

office manager and bookkeeper. Virgie was one of five promising African Americans selected and

named the “First Five,” paving the way for other African Americans. Virgie also integrated the

personnel department at the Airtemp Division of Chrysler Corporation, where she excelled for

21 years.

 

Simultaneously, Virgie became an entrepreneur purchasing real estate properties including Playtime

Nursery School, where she was President and CEO, and eventually assumed the daily operations for

over 25 years. In 1984, Virgie earned two Associate degrees in Early Childhood Education and

Business Management from Sinclair Community College. After selling Playtime in 2004, and the death

of her father, she managed the family-owned business, Leroi’s Hair Legacy and other real estate

properties until 2015 when she moved to Atlanta, Georgia to be closer to her family.

As a faithful servant, Virgie joined Shiloh Baptist Church and was a member for over 50 years before

relocating. She participated in the church choir and the Ester Circle of the Mission Ministry where she

served as an executive board member alongside her friend Ruth McBeth, and an organizer for the

Annual Spring Tea & Fashion Shows. In Georgia, she joined the Lillie P. Thomas Women's ministry at

Ebenezer Baptist Church and later became a member of Christ the King Church in Dacula, Georgia.

 

Virgie treasured life and was deeply committed to her family, often hosting family dinners in her home

making her beloved German Chocolate and Red Velvet cakes. She often committed to being on the

planning committees for the Merriweather family reunions bringing together relatives from five

different states. She was a believer in education and provided financial support to her children and

grandchildren to complete their college, graduate and professional educational programs. Virgie

served in the Red Rose Chapter of the Red Hat Society for over 15 years. She was politically active

and proudly received an accommodation from the Barack Obama campaign for her dedicated work

and service. Her enjoyment of fashion and shopping earned her a reputation for her style. Virgie loved

to travel often, garden, exercise, and relax at her local health club.

 

Virgie was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy Wilder, who she married on June 12, 1997 until

his passing in 2008, her parents Roy Hill Sr. and Mattie Louise Hill, sister Bertha Mosley, brother

Roy Lee Hill Jr., and bestfriend Queenie Turner. Virgie is survived by daughters Dr. Victoria

(William) Long-Coleman and Melanie (Ronald) Walton; grandchildren Brandon (Danielle) Coleman,

Jordan Coleman, Dr. Arielle (Leland) Hardin, Aja Walton, and Dr. Amiya Walton; great-grandchildren Laila Coleman, Naomi Coleman, and Nova Mikki Walton, and a host of aunts, cousins,

nephews, nieces, and friends. Virgie was stepmother to Jimmie (Renee) Wilder III, Timothy Wilder

and Turallyn (Jeffrey) Ushry, and Godmother to Flora Williams. Virgie will be missed by so many.