Mr. Joseph “Frankie” Hill, age 66 of Centre, formerly of Keel Mountain, passed away peacefully on March 07, 2026, at Atrium Floyd Health in Rome, GA.
Graveside services will be held at 11 AM Saturday, March 14th, 2026 at Bethel Cemetery located at 179 Keel Hollow Road, New Hope, Alabama 35760, with Dr. Jeremy Deaton officiating. The family will receive friends Friday, March 13, at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home in Centre, AL from 12 noon until 1 PM, and from 4-7 PM at W.T. Wilson Funeral Home located at 2226 Shiloh Main Street, Rainsville, Alabama 35986.
Frankie is survived by his chosen sons, Dr. Jeremy Deaton and Brandon (Caris) Lambert; grandchildren Ruby Joyce Deaton and Lily Lambert; Chosen Brother, Tim Lambert; Cousin, Donna Hancock; Aunt Virginia Keck; Special Friends, Ricky Roberts, Robby Lang, Josh White, Tona Deaton, Donald Skaggs, Haylee (Cody) Biggs, Bobby Don Rogers, Tom Wilson, Todd O’Conner, Cody Burns, Paige Jelks, Elizabeth Lauricella, Whitney Waddell, Deidre Tierce, Ronald Berry, Cody Gore, and Dr. Marvin Barron.
Mr. Hill was a native of Madison County, Alabama, the son of the late Velma Hill. He had served families across Northeast Alabama for over 40 years through various funeral homes. Frankie served at W.T. Wilson Funeral Home in Rainsville for over 30 years until leaving to help open and found Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home in Centre, Alabama. Frankie spent numerous years with the Mennonite communities in Ethridge, TN, loved to farm and trade farming goods, and loved to hear his favorite Gospel group, the Singing Cookes. Frankie was a member of the Holiness faith.
Pallbearers will be Ricky Roberts, Robby Lang, Tom Wilson, Todd O’Conner, Tim Lambert, and Brandon Lambert.
Frankie’s motto in life was always “straight talk is easy to understand.” Everyone who knew him knew he never had a problem letting his opinion be known to all, yet he was always there when his friends needed him.
Ruby Jo said this about our Franko, “I love you Frankie, thank you for all the time that you have put into me. I love you and pray you get better. I love you forever and always.”
Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home will never be the same without our Franko, but we will always remember what you have taught us.
Dr. Deaton would like to extend a special thank you to the Comfort Care team at Floyd and Kent Hunter with the Respiratory Therapy Department at Floyd, without his care Frankie would have never had the peaceful days that he had.
Frankie was preceded in death by his loving mother, Velma Lee Turner Hill; close friends, Eugene Cushen and Eddie Colvard; father, Joseph Floyd Hill; half-sisters, Opal Loretta Hill Pannell and Joan Carolyn Hill Rogers.
Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home and W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel and Crematory in charge of all arrangements.
