J. D. Hill

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James David Hill, Jr (born J D Hoyle Hill on June 29, 1918 in Phenix City - died December 16, 2005) was the owner of Hill's Foodland in Pleasant Grove.

Hill was one of 12 children born to James David and Jessie Clara Worthy Hill in Phenix City. Hill later changed his name to James David Hill, Jr, dropping his middle name of Hoyle. Hill worked most of his life for various supermarkets, and opened a chain of convenience stores in Birmingham. In 1972 he discovered the Winn-Dixie in Pleasant Grove was closing. The store, which had been converted from a Hill's Food Stores in 1964 after the Florida-based Winn-Dixie bought out that Birmingham chain, was re-opened soon after it closed, christened Hill's Food Center. After struggling for a few years, Hill turned the store around and by 1990 had expanded. Around that time, Hill turned the store over to his son, David. Hill traveled extensively in his retirement. In January 2001, Hill's wife Kathleen passed away. That April, his grandson Jimmy was murdered. In June of that year, Hill married Beatrice Maddox from Texas, and continued to travel between the two states. The grocery store was sold to Hill's grandson John David in 2004, and J. D. remained active in the store's operation until he passed away in December 2005.

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