1 HR30
2 216791-1
3 By Representatives Clarke, Drummond, Gaston, Pringle, Wilcox,
4 Jones (S), Bracy and Simpson
5 RFD:
6 First Read: 02-FEB-22
Page 0 1 216791-1:n:01/28/2022:BH/bh LSA2022-305
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8 CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF DR. STEPHEN FORD DILL.
9
10 WHEREAS, it is with profound sorrow that we note the
11 death of Dr. Stephen Ford Dill; and
12 WHEREAS, his passing leaves a void in the lives of
13 his loving family, many friends, and the entire community,
14 where he was highly regarded; and
15 WHEREAS, Dr. Dill was born in Birmingham, Alabama,
16 to Chris C. Dill and Winnie Frank Ford Dill; and
17 WHEREAS, Dr. Dill earned a Bachelor's Degree from
18 Emory University, a Master's Degree from Emory's Candler
19 School of Theology, and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree
20 from Huntingdon College; and
21 WHEREAS, from 1972 to 1990, Dr. Dill served as
22 Senior Minister of Dauphin Way United Methodist Church; later,
23 he was named Pastor Emeritus; in 2010, he served as Interim
24 Senior Minister; all in all, he was a man of numerous
25 achievements, including, but not limited to, serving as a
26 United Methodist Minister in the Alabama-West Florida
27 Conference for 40 years; organizing Oglethorpe United
Page 1 1 Methodist Church in Oglethorpe, Georgia, and organizing Wesley
2 Chapel United Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama; serving as
3 Pastor of East Tallassee United Methodist Church in Alabama,
4 Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church in Florida, Dalraida
5 United Methodist Church in Alabama, and First United Methodist
6 Church of Brewton in Alabama; serving as President of the
7 Alabama-West Florida Conference Board of Pensions; serving as
8 a Delegate to the World Methodist Conferences in London,
9 England, and Denver, Colorado; serving as the Superintendent
10 of the Methodist Churches for the Troy District; serving as
11 Chairman of Celebration 2000, Mobile's interdenominational
12 observance of two millennia of Christianity; serving as the
13 Director of the J.L. Bedsole Scholars Program for 18 years
14 after retiring from the ministry; being honored with the 1992
15 Mobile United Community Service Award, the 1994 Rotarian of
16 the Year Award, and the 2010 Chamber of Commerce Fred
17 Delchamps Award; being named to the Murphy High School Hall of
18 Fame; being the keynote speaker for the 175th Anniversary
19 Celebration of the The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce in
20 2011; and serving on many boards and committees; and
21 WHEREAS, Dr. Dill was preceded in death by his
22 parents; and sister, Sarah Elizabeth Dill; and
23 WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife, Ruth Reeves
24 Dill; children, Dr. Stephen Reeves Dill (Ann), Dr. Laurie
25 Elizabeth Dill (Larry Menefee), Chris Tesch, and Stuart
26 Harrison Dill (Maral Missirian-Dill); grandchildren, Robert
27 Stephen Dill, Rebecca Elizabeth Dill, Andrew Dill Menefee,
Page 2 1 Edward Dill Menefee, Martin Dill Menefee, Ani Missirian-Wilson
2 (John Wilson), and Ohan Missirian-Dill; and great-grandchild,
3 Aline Missirian-Wilson; and
4 WHEREAS, although his presence will be greatly
5 missed, the memory of Dr. Dill will be cherished in the hearts
6 of all who knew and loved him; now therefore,
7 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
8 THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, That the death of Dr. Stephen Ford
9 Dill is recorded with deep sadness, and this resolution is
10 offered in tribute to his life, along with heartfelt sympathy
11 to his family, whose grief is shared by many.
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