Mrs. Toni Cecelia Hill

 Toni Cecelia Hill

Toni Cecelia Hill, 77, Panama City Beach, Fla., passed away peacefully at her home on November 15, 2019. Toni was born April 8, 1942, in Langdale, Ala. to George and Bertha Medders. Toni was raised in nearby Fairfax and graduated from Valley High School in 1960. At Valley High she excelled as a drum majorette and was involved in various forms of dance throughout her school years.

Toni married David Hill in 1960 and they soon began a football journey that took them to Auburn University and Kansas City where Toni became one of the most beloved of the Kansas City Chiefs’ wives and where she soon developed the reputation of being an expert on the game of football.

David and Toni brought two children, Rusty and Sandee, with them from Auburn to Kansas City in 1963 and soon added a third child, Christopher, in 1966. Toni raised her three children in Kansas City and rarely missed one of their school or sports activities and was a consistent volunteer as room mother and dozens of other things around the kids’ schools.

After the children had all been raised, David’s automotive auction career brought he and Toni back to Alabama in 1986. They eventually resided in Moody, Ala. Where God providentially opened Toni’s eyes and ears to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Toni embarked there on a new life as a Christian and was a fixture in the children’s ministry at Community Presbyterian Church in Moody. She was dubbed “Miss Toni” by the church’s pre-schoolers but was known by that name until the name and identity of “Granny” took over.

The role of Granny became the principal calling of Toni’s life, and she soon became “Granny” not only to her biological grandchildren but to all the grandchildren’s friends as well. After she and David moved to Panama City Beach in 2005, she hosted numerous Spring Break trips for her grandchildren and their friends.

Survivors include Toni’s husband, David, of the home; a daughter, Sandee (Greg); daughters-in-laws Tracy and Kimberleigh; and 9 grandchildren: Olivia (Seth) Kohlstaedt, Kayla Hill, Davis Finley, Bronson Hill, Timothy Finley, Phoebe Finley, Mia Hill, Annika Finley, and Tres Hill. She is also survived by two great-granddaughters, Piper and Peyton Glenn. Toni was preceded in death by her parents, George and Bertha Medders, a brother Michael, and her two sons, Rusty and Christopher.

A celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, November 20 at Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home’s Chapel, 3700 20th Ave. Valley, Ala. The family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning at 1 p.m.  (EST).
 

Contributions may be made to the Panama City Hope Fund, established by the family to benefit the victims of Hurricane Michael. Checks should be made payable to “The Signatry” and mailed to the Signatry at 7171 W. 95th Street, Suite 501 Overland Park, KS 66212. Please include “The Panama City Hope Fund #133915” in the memo line. 

Please visit www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to leave an online condolence for the family.

Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley, AL Directing

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