Franklin – Minnie Johnson Duke Hill, 85 died September 30, 2008. She was born in Holland, a daughter of the late Wade Shepard and Mary Hamilton Johnson. Mrs. Hill was predeceased by two husbands, Roy Carr Duke, Sr. and Billy Joe Hill; four sisters, Debbie Wilkins, Becky Rountree, Annie Mae Johnson, and Clara Pierce; and two brothers, Samuel and Robert Johnson. A graduate of Holland High School, she attended Chowan College and Elon College. She owned and operated multiple motels from North Carolina to Florida. Mrs. Hill was a member of Franklin Congregational Christian Church.
Left to cherish her memory are two sons, Roy Carr Duke, Jr. and wife, Susan, of Franklin, Raye Johnson Duke and wife, Carolyn, of Charlotte; a brother, Wade Shepard Johnson, Jr. and wife, Marjorie, of Franklin; eight grandchildren, Ryan Duke and wife, Jennifer, of Suffolk, Scott Duke of Greenville, NC, Matt Duke and wife, Christina, of Chase City, Marty Duke and wife, Leah, of Pasadena, MD; Bill and Rebecca Allmond of Leesburg, and Dan and Valerie Hardesty of Charlotte, NC; and eight great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Duke, Josie Duke, Kylie Seidenburg, Zachery Duke, Matthew Duke, Jordan and Cameron Hardesty, and Meredith Allmond.
The funeral will be conducted Friday at 11 am at Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. James H. Hyatt officiating. Interment will follow in Poplar Spring Cemetery. The family will receive friends today (Thursday) from 7 to 8:30 pm at the funeral home and suggests memorials be made to Franklin Congregational Christian Church, 412 North High Street, Franklin, VA. 23851.
Condolences may be offered at www.wrightfuneralhome.org