Gayle Hill

And he said “My presence will go with you, and I shall give you rest.”

Gayle Ellen Hill, daughter of the late Elder Deacon George and Elder Deacon Frances Jackson was born on August 24, 1956, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She was called to her eternal home on Friday, June 30, 2023. Gayle grew up in Metuchen where she went through the Metuchen Public School System and graduated from Metuchen High. Gayle attended Alvernia College and Bryn Marr college where she graduated with a degree in Criminology. Upon graduation she held a few jobs in the Financial Service Industry (Core States Bank and Merrill Lynch) but she found her true passion when she joined the Hopewell School District as a Paraprofessional (Assistant Teacher). She was thoroughly loved by all. Gayle retired from the Hopewell School District in June 2020 and many of her students continued to reach out to her long after she retired.

Gayle grew up in church and she faithfully attended New Hope Baptist Church. Gayle loved the Lord and was baptized at an early age. She had many talents but her most precious gift was her beautiful soprano voice. Gayle started singing in the children’s choir where her mother Frances played the piano and continued singing through adulthood. Gayle always loved working with young people and as she got older, she took the lead in directing the plays for the church.    She met her husband to be John when directing one of the plays. He decided to join the play as a way to meet Gayle and the rest was history as they were married September 15, 1984. After a short stint in Attleboro Massachusetts and Ewing New Jersey, they settled in Pennington New Jersey where they raised their two children John and Nicole. When Gayle and John relocated to Ewing from Attleboro, they joined 2nd Calvary Baptist Church where both of their children were christened. When they moved to Pennington, they joined First Baptist Church of Princeton where Gayle was a regular attendee of Sunday School and Bible Study.  She was also the Assistant President of the Choir and Church Clerk for many years. Gayle along with Cheryl Sistrunk formed a knitting group at the church. They knitted blankets for the church and infant caps for the local hospital. In 2019 Gayle and John decided it was time to return to Gayle’s Home Church, New Hope Baptist Church. Gayle immediately joined the Seasoned Saints Choir and continued to sing as long as her health would allow but her faith always remained strong irrespective of what she was going through.

Gayle was also a long-time member of Jack and Jill’s Mercer Chapter for 14 years where she served as Group Mom and Chaplain. Also, Gayle’s singing was not just limited to Church. She sang professionally in her early years for weddings and various events. She was also a member of the Central Jersey Choral society for serval years which gave her the opportunity to perform a variety of classical choral works. Gayle also loved to host dinner parties, knitting sessions, Jack and Jill meetings/events and barbecues at the Hill household and Gayle was always the ultimate host. Gaye’s biggest joys were family vacations when the family was all together. It did not matter if the family was at the beach, Disney World, Europe or at an Amusement Park.  What mattered was the family was together. It may be hard to believe but over time Gayle became a lover of roller coasters.

Gayle was predeceased by her parents, Elder Deacons George and Frances Jackson. She leaves to celebrate her memory, her loving husband John; son John III; daughter Nicole LaStella and son in law Michael LaStella; Mother-in-Law Sylvia B. Hill; Sister-in-Law Adreinne D Hill; Niece Alexis Sears; and a host of cousins and friends.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association https://act.alz.org

Respectfully Submitted

The Family

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