Stephen Hill
Stephen Hill, a gospel singer and songwriter who regularly appeared in Bill & Gloria Gaither’s popular “Homecoming” series of videos, CDs and concerts, died Sunday, Aug. 5, after a massive heart attack. He was 55.
Mr. Hill, who taught at Ben Speer’s Stamps Baxter School of Music in Nashville, was in Lumberton, N.C. for a concert at Antioch Baptist Church, when he suffered the attack.
He performed Friday, Aug. 3, during the “Gospel Legends Reunion” at Goodlettsville Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
News of Mr. Hill’s death spread quickly Sunday evening through a shocked community of friends and musicians.
“Stephen was an incredible, gentle man whose presence filled a room,” posted gospel singer Sheri Easter on her Twitter account. Multi-instrumentalist Rebekah Long posted on Facebook, “What a great and passionate, loving soul we have lost.”
Raised in upstate South Carolina, Mr. Hill was known to audiences for his powerful and versatile tenor voice, and to friends as a man of kindness and humor whose favorite quotes came from sources as disparate as Andy Griffith, Ernest Hemingway, Jesus Christ, General Stonewall Jackson and the character of Carl Childers from the movie “Sling Blade.”
Over three decades in music, he collaborated with notables including Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Vern Gosdin, Charlie Louvin, Dottie Rambo, Sam Moore, Marie Osmond and Nancy Sinatra.
Three days prior to his death, Mr. Hill went online and wrote of his own faith, “We can’t judge, and that’s hard. Loving people doesn’t mean changing them. That’s even harder. I hope He gives me a break when I see Him face to face. I also hope that He forgives the mistakes I make in my zeal. Love and forgiveness.”
Mr. Hill is survived by wife Kathy Hill and children Melody, Miriam and Caleb.