IN LOVING MEMORY
REV. TERRY LINN MCCRAY HILL SUNRISE: MAY 29, 1959 SUNSET: JANUARY 15, 2022
Obituary The Rev. Terry Linn McCray Hill (Rev. Terry as she liked to be called) was born on May 29th, 1959, to the loving union of Anthony McCray, Sr., and Coralie McCray in Oakland, California. She was the third child born to this union. She received her formal education from Cortez Elementary in Richmond, California, and Portola Junior High, El Cerrito, California. She graduated from J. F. Kennedy High School in Richmond, California, in 1977, having earned the honor of being the President and Valedictorian of her class. Rev. Terry attended the University of California at Berkeley, where she received her degree in Endocrine Medical Biology in 1981.
Rev. Terry served as pastor of St. Paul AME Church in Vallejo CA, which is now New Beginnings AME Church; Wright Chapel AME Church, San Francisco, California; Bethel AME Church, Reno/Sparks, Nevada; Payne Chapel AME Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Bethel AME Church, Portland, Oregon. Rev. Terry was devoted to the ministry, and wherever she was assigned, she made a tremendous difference in the lives of people and congregants around her. She became an intricate part of every community she encountered. While serving at Bethel AME Church in Reno/Sparks, Nevada, she wrote a grant that built the Bethel Independence Plus Care Facility. She also rallied the community and civic leaders to restore the Historic Bethel AME Church of Reno/Sparks, Nevada. She was an advocate of African American History that we all should celebrate. Her research of the All-Black Townships even brought her to adventures in those townships in Oklahoma. Rev. Terry has traveled to many places in the world in ministry, including the Virgin Islands and West Africa. Rev. Terry was a member and served in various capacities in the AME Church Women in Ministry, and She served in various capacities on the Conference Level of the AME Church. She served in community, civic, and state organizations. Rev. Terry was initiated into the Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. at the University of California at Berkley Chapter in 1979. She served as the undergraduate chapter president and later as a member of the alumni chapter. More recently, she was a 2021 initiate into the Links organization, and she became a member of the Ecumenical Alliance of Oregon. In keeping with her love of academics and achievement, Rev. Terry published her first book in 2020 titled “Stay Outa Grown Folks Business.” Rev. Terry Linn McCray Hill was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony McCray Sr. and Coralie McCray, along with her brother Anthony McCray Jr. She leaves to cherish her memories, her husband of 25 years, Arthur Hill of Portland, Oregon; one brother, Errol J. McCray of Richmond, California; one sister, Iris A. McCray of Richmond, California; two nieces, Latondra Goode and husband Terry Goode of Richmond, California, and Catrina McCray of Anchorage Alaska; A nephew, Jerald McCray of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; two great-nieces, Lauren and Leah of Richmond California; A great-nephew, Adrian of Anchorage, Alaska. The matriarch of the Family, Stephanie Secrease of Suisun, California; A host of cousins, family, and close friends in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and California. The Rev. Terry left an unparallel legacy of love, which exudes loyalty, commitment, and service to our Heavenly Father. Her strong character, voice, and beautiful smile has left a mighty footprint within the community of faith and beyond. Rev. Terry McCray Hill was a blessing to all who knew her, and we all will miss her.
OBITUARY
She was baptized and accepted Christ at an early age at Bethany Baptist Church in Oakland, California, pastored by Rev. Huey Watson Sr. She was a faithful member of that church until God called her to join other relatives at the African Methodist Episcopal church. Once there, she accepted her call to ministry. Next, she went to seminary and received her Master of Divinity degree from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. She continued her education, working toward her doctoral degree. While pastoring in Portland, she served as a chaplain at a local Oregon hospital.
Order of Service Rev. Spencer Barrett, Presiding Elder Pacific Northwest Conference Cascade District Officiating The Prelude
Rochelle McElroy
The Processional
Clergy, Pallbearers, Family
The Salutation
Rev. Spencer Barrett
The Hymn
Mrs. Bobbie Smith Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing Page 77
The Invocation
Rev. Allison Canndy Smith Bailey AME Church, Everett, WA
Old Testament Epistle Gospel
The Scripture Lessons Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 I Corinthians 15:54-58 John 14:1-7
Mrs. Pat Dobbins Mrs. Margaret Marshall Rev. Dion Jordon
The Anthem
Choral Selection
The Acknowledgements and Resolutions
Mrs. Carol Chism
The Reflections Family Member Steward Board Albina Ministerial Alliance Coordinator of WIM
Ms. Iris McCray Ms. Antionette Davis Rev. Dr. Leroy Haines Rev. Dr. Anna Clark Walker Chapel AME Church, Renton, WA
PNW Conference Clergy
Rev. Anthony Steele Allen AME Church, Tacoma, WA
The Obituary
Mrs. Dorothy Fuller The Video Tribute
The Musical Selection
Choral Selection
The Words of Comfort
Bishop Clement W. Fugh, Presiding Bishop Fifth Episcopal District AME Church
The Eulogy
Rev. Dr. Carey G. Anderson, Pastor
The Closing Prayer The Recessional
First AME Church, Seattle, WA
Rev. Dr. Dennis Payne II Ministers, Pallbearers, Family
Order of Service Rev. Dr. Harold R. Mayberry, Presiding Elder, Oakland/San Joaquin District Officiating The Prelude
Rev. A. Keith Williams, Pastor
First AME Church, El Sobrante, CA
The Processional
Clergy, Pallbearers, Family
The Salutation
Rev. A. Keith Williams How Great the Wisdom Power and Grace Page 91
The Invocation
Rev. Anthony Hughes, Pastor
Old Testament
St. Paul AME Church, Berkeley, CA
The Scripture Lessons Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Rev. Dr. Rosalynn Brookins, Pastor
Epistle
Parks Chapel AME Church, Oakland, CA
I Corinthians 15:54-58
Gospel
Rev. Dr. Rodney Smith, Pastor First AME Church, Oakland, CA
John 14:1-7
The Anthem
Rev. Loretta Dickerson Smith, Pastor
Allen Chapel AME Church, San Francisco, CA
Rev. A. Keith Williams
The Acknowledgements and Resolutions The Reflections Friends Family Member Friend and Colleauge
Rev. Dr. Mark Tyler, Pastor Mother Bethel AME Church, Philadelphia, PA
California Conference Components
Mrs. Alice Johnson, President California Conference Women’s Missionary Society
Terry’s Former Presiding Elder
Rev. Dr. Vernon S. Burroughs, Presiding Elder San Francisco/Sacramento District
The Musical Selection
Rev. A. Keith Williams
The Words of Comfort
Bishop Clement W. Fugh, Presiding Bishop Fifth Episcopal District AME Church
The Eulogy
Rev. Sandra Smith Blair, Associate Minister
The Closing Prayer The Recessional
St. Paul AME Church, Berkerly, CA
Rev. Robin Crawford, Pastor
First AME Community Church, Bay Point, CA
Ministers, Pallbearers, Family
ORDER OF SERVICE
The Hymn
Rev. Dr. Harold R. Mayberry
LOVING TRIBUTE
Pallbearers Bethel AME Church, Portland, OR Rev. Dennis Payne II Rev. Dion Jordon Mr. Michael Whitmore Mr. Paul Marshall Mr. Sylvester Paschal Mr. Keith Edwards
St. Paul AME Church, Berkerly, CA Rev. Dr. M. Jo David Sales, Pastor
Brookins AME Church, Oakland, CA Rev. Cubie Finley III, Pastor Murph Emmanuel AME Church, North Highlands, CA Rev. Boaston Woodson, Jr, Pastor Resurrection AME Church, Richmond, CA Rev. Gilbert Richards II, Pastor Bethel AME Church, Marysville, CA Rev. Michael Porter, Pastor St. Paul AME Church, Fowler, CA
Life is but a Stopping Place
Life is but a stopping place, A pause in what’s to be, A resting place along the road, to sweet eternity. We all have different journeys, Different paths along the way, We all were meant to learn some things, but never meant to stay... Our destination is a place, Far greater than we know. For some the journey’s quicker, For some the journey’s slow. And when the journey finally ends,We’ll claim a great reward, And find an everlasting peace,Together with the lord Author unknown Expressions
We thank you, family and friends for your gracious offerings of prayers, cards, encouraging words, telephone calls and text messages expressing your love and condolences. Your expressions of love and prayers serve as a continuous source of comfort today and in the days ahead. May God bless each and every one of you in a very special way.