Homegoing services for Mrs. Lillie Ruth Davis Hill formerly of Tampa. Lillie departed this life on Sunday, January 8, 2012 in Cleveland, OH, will be held 10: 30 a.m. Tuesday January 17th at Eastview United Church of Christ, Cleveland, OH, Thomas G. Smith Funeral Home and on Friday, January 20th, 12:00 p.m. at Aikens Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. Dr. T.W. Jenkins, officiating. Interment will be in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida. Lillie Ruth Davis Hill, was born May 11, 1937 in Madison, Florida to the union of Jake and Lizzie Redley DeLaughter and was the youngest of 17 children. Lillie accepted Christ at an early age. At the age of 14, she migrated to Cleveland, Ohio. She studied nursing in high school and participated in the Spanish Club, Student Council, and Entertainment Committee. After graduating in 1954, she worked as a licensed practical nurse. That same year, she met a handsome G.I., William L. Davis, Jr., and the couple joined in Holy Matrimony in 1955. Their union lasted nearly 50 years and produced two children: William L. (Billy) Davis, III and Linda Marie. Lillie and William moved across the country and around the world from Texas to Germany. After her husband's retirement from the military in 1971, Lillie and her family settled in Niagara Falls, New York. She became a government employee working first with Niagara County Department of Social Services and then as a Claims Representative for the Social Security Administration (SSA). She retired from SSA in 2003 after nearly 20 years of service and she and William relocated to Tampa, FL where they lived until his passing in 2006. In 2008, Lillie returned to Cleveland where she was embraced by the Hill family. Lillie found special joy in the companionship of former beau, Farris Hill, Sr., who affectionately called her "Ruth." They were united in a commitment ceremony in August 2009.Lillie was an active member of New Hope Baptist Church in Niagara Falls and served as a Deaconess and sang in the Sanctuary Choir. In Tampa, she became a faithful member of New Hope Baptist Church of Hillsborough County. In Cleveland, she fellowshipped at Trinity Church in Apple Valley, Howard County, OH, and at Eastview United Church of Christ which she joined in January 2011. She was an active member of the Links, Incorporated and was a card carrying member of the Democratic National Committee. She felt most rewarded when her humanitarian efforts helped people help themselves. Lillie enjoyed vacationing, working crossword puzzles, and reading. She adored children and her favorite food to eat was any type of fish. She also loved gospel music and spirituals and had a hankering for Country & Western. Lillie was preceded in death by her parents, husband William and siblings Albert, Lonnie, Emily, Ella, Tom, Ernest, Fannie, Elizabeth, Bill, Bernice, Willie Mae, William, and Fred. She leaves to cherish her memory a devoted mate, Farris Hill, Sr.; her son, William Davis of St. Petersburg, FL; her daughter, Linda Davis of Silver Spring, MD; an "adopted" daughter, Marla Brockenton of Buffalo, NY; her three grandchildren: Ashlynn Davis of Columbus, OH; Cory Davis of Cleveland, OH; and Bryson Davis of Buffalo, NY; a sister, Kizzie Wilcher of Tampa, FL; a brother, Amond (Kim) DeLaughter of Cleveland, OH; sisters-in-law: Fontella Harris of Chicago, IL; Eloise Davis of New York, NY; Amy Potillo and Lizzie Davis of Cleveland, OH; Mary DeLaughter of Orlando, FL; Dorothy (Roger) Fears and Frances (Royal) Heath of Cleveland, OH; and Alberta (Leroy) Thickening of Hancock County, GA; brothers-in law: Elder "Bo" (Virginia) Harrison of Atlanta, GA; and Ellis Davis of Cleveland, OH; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, other relatives, and treasured friends. The viewing will be held 1 hour prior to the service on Friday.