Remembering Civil Rights Activist and Businessman Jesse Hill, Jr.

When reached by phone, Xernona Clayton had not heard of her friend’s passing.

A civil rights activist and media pioneer in her own regard, Xernona Clayton recalls being introduced to Jessie Hill, Jr.

“Dr. Martin Luther King introduced me to him. We were walking down the street on Auburn Ave. Dr. King said this to me about him, he said, very few things that happen in this city that are good that don’t emanate from Mr. Hill.”

That was in the early 1960’s says Clayton.

A native of St. Louis, Jesse Hill Jr. moved to Atlanta right before the height of the civil rights movement.

He would land a job with the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, a successful black-family owned business.

By 1973, Hill would become CEO.

Alexis Scott is publisher of Atlanta’s oldest newspaper, the Atlanta Daily World.

It was founded by her grandfather, William Alexander Scott II. 

She’s known Jesse Hill and his family since she was a little girl.

Alexis Scott calls Hill the bridge between Rev. Martin Luther King and King Jr.

“He allowed people on this staff at Atlanta Life to participate in demonstrations. He paid the bail for students to get out of jail. He just provided all kinds of support for activists in the civil rights movement.”

Xernona Clayton says Hill’s civil rights and business influence was immeasurable in a city where segregation and Jim Crow laws had once existed

“He had such a good working relationship with the white community as well and that was necessary in those early days to have good relationships in the white community so you could coalesce, blacks and whites together.”

Hill knew the value of that and he nurtured those relationships and was respected for being honest in his opinions even when sometimes they were not necessarily those of the white community, says Clayton.

A confidant and political advisor, Jesse Hill, Jr., worked closely with Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson.

Jessie Hill, Jr. is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.

He was 86 years old.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed Statement on Passing of Jesse Hill Jr.

“Today, the City of Atlanta mourns the passing of an exemplar in business and civic leadership.  Jesse Hill Jr. was an essential figure in bridging the divide between the business community and the African American community in our city. 

His legacy lives on and his tireless passion for empowering generations of Americans continues. I stand as a personal beneficiary of his great work. 

His passing is very sad for me personally and for this city.  Atlanta would not be what it is today without Jesse Hill Jr.’s extraordinary contributions.  We have all of his family members in our prayers and in our hearts.”