Ronald Hill

Ronald Hill was born on 06/14/1947 in Baltimore, MD.  To the late Luther Hill and Edna Hollie.

He was called home to glory on April 11th 2019, born as twin male to a family of six children.

From an early age in Baltimore, MD. Ron owned and operated a horse and buggy fruit and vegetable business successfully. His Entrepreneur spirits continued through the years with a prosperous business of accessorizing with the latest fashions.  He himself was a trend setter always sharp as a tack especially when it came to his hats and socks.

His charisma and ability to sell allowed him to be a great people person and leader. He was educated in Baltimore and graduated from the school of hard knocks. The hard streets of Baltimore, MD. Led him to a trouble life which ultimately forced him to escape from Baltimore for a better life in Boston, MA.

33 years ago Ron went into a treatment house at First Academy Inc. in Boston, MA. and by the grace of god Ron surrender to his addiction and began his recovery process.

Ron quickly ascended the ranks of the Narcotics Anonymous Recovery Program and became a leader in the recovery community; where he found his new passion for saving lives through the recovery way.  Many people knew him thru the RED “recovery” VAN that became the railroad to recovery from North to the South. He became a trailblazer as a Union Glazer for Local 1044 for 30 years and continued to advocate to bring people of color and women into the unions.

The pain of his past fueled his passion to connect with people, he became a mentor to countless people who love him. He worked effortlessly to influence young people of the community to understand their history and gain the knowledge of their culture. This led to many fundraisers to provide bus trips to the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Historical Black College tours, African American Traveling Slave Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History Culture and the Million Man and Women Marches.

Ron along with the concerned citizens committee and partnership with Metro Boston Alive and Roxbury Boys and Girls Club and Children Services of Roxbury YPP, organized Unity Day, and Health fairs including prostate cancer awareness and the dress to impress fashion show events to uplift the self-confidence of youth within the Boston community. Ron was well known and established in the community for one of the only free Martin Luther King Day celebrations where hundreds of members of the community could eat and enjoy a day filled with entertainment.

 Ron never wanted to politicize or take credit for all his many accomplishments and recognitions, but he did treasure his father of the year award the most!  He was truly a man of the people and believed he was using his God given gifts to serve God’s will and purpose for his life.  

Sunday family dinners was his time to bring our blended family together, where Ron show case his cooking skills with some of his favorites such as crab cakes, craw fish, cabbage and famous Jelly cakes!

Ron loved anything that brought family together whether it be a family reunion, family get together, birthdays, and family trips. Ron was not a big fan of holidays because he lived as if every day was a holiday, however he believed in the importance of celebrating black history and kwanza.

Ron was survived by his wife Yvette Benton-Hill of 25 plus years whom he loved dearly and helped unconditionally provided a good home life.  Their love for traveling together to many places allowed them to experience many adventures that would take them beyond their wildest dreams, but most of all just enjoyed being together.  Over the years they earned the title of the King and Queen of Narcotics Anonymous due to God’s grace and mercy, their unified strength and continued support to the recovery community has made a significant impact by opening new NA meetings, speaker jams, and active members of convention committee for the Boston Area for over 30 years.  This is a reflection of Ron’s ability to bring people together for causes he was so passionate about.

Ron will be tremendously missed by many family members including his siblings: twin Brother Ahmad Abdul-Braseer, Juanita Hill, Bonita Brown, and Ernestine Walker.Two sisters preceded him in death Sharon Hill and Barbara Anne Moss.

Children: Randy Benton, Douglas Benton, Rory Benton, Regina Small, Darlene Davis, Towanda Hill, Anthony Davis, Ronald Hill Jr., Kenyon Davis and Latonya Davis and all their significant other; 27 grandchildren; great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Ron is fondly remembered by his extended family, many close friends and members of the church community.

Ron would want this legacy of doing God’s will through commitment, service, gratitude and fellowship to carry on through us all.