Riles Edward Hill

Posted on August 1, 2019

Riles Edward Hill, 64, died surrounded by his family on Sunday, July 28, 2019 at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The cause of death was complications from a stroke.

A native of Perry, Edward was a 1973 graduate of Taylor County High School. He was the son of Marie Whitfield Hill and the late Riles Hill.

His grandparents, Curtis Whitfield and Audrey Hendry Whitfield, and his infant daughter, Emily Hill, also preceded him in death.

Edward began working as a millwright for Watkins Engineers and Constructors in Perry. Joe Mason and C.A. Lewis were mentors he credited throughout his career.

He managed construction sites in Port St. Joe, Florida, and Albany, Georgia, before teaming with his daughter, Jessica Colbert, to create an industrial construction company, Universal Maintenance Incorporated, in Toccoa, Georgia.

In addition to being an entrepreneur, Edward was also an inventor. He held several patents including a dewatering system called the UMDK that is currently used by the poultry industry.

Edward enjoyed fishing and boating with his grandchildren at his home on Lake Lanier, Georgia. His pastimes also included attending Florida State University and Atlanta Falcons football games.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Susan; three daughters, Patty Patterson of Guntersville, Alabama, Jessica Colbert (Jesse) of Toccoa, Georgia, and Lyndsey Cathey (Lee) of Mexico Beach, Florida; in addition to his mother, Marie Hill, he is survived by three brothers, Carl Hill, of Perry, Mark Hill of Tallahassee, and Link Hill of Perry; and six grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled at Faith Baptist Church in Perry at 10 am on Saturday with a funeral beginning at 11 am in the sanctuary. Interment will follow at Pineview Memorial Gardens.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to Samaritan’s Purse and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Joe P. Burns Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.