Queen Jill!
I remember making Peach Cobbler and Jambalaya for your wedding! From there we had many celebrations together, Easter, Christmas, birthdays, and oh I remember Marcus hiring me as the “Chef” and teacher for your savory and sweet birthday brunch! One day soon after I got the news I was standing out on the playground thinking about you and I couldn’t feel sad for laughing about all of the times we all spent together. A student came and stood in front of me. I didn’t know her name. She started piling wood chips into a circle and she stuck one wood chip on top and handed me one. Then she shouted “Happy Birthday” and we both fell out laughing! I said to myself that’s the spirit of Jill!♥️ Rest in paradise Queen!♥️♥️♥️ We love you!!! Peace and love to you Marcus!
A Tribute to a Compassionate Advocate
I have had the pleasure of knowing Jill as one of the kindest person I have met, which says a lot in itself as we got to know each other in a professional capacity. She was always genuine and so understanding. I am lucky to have known her, and will pray for her peace.
To Jill - You embody kindness, generosity, and respect, bringing humanity to the practice of law. Your compassion uplifts, your understanding inspires, and your fairness leaves a lasting impact. Thank you for being a true champion of justice and grace.
You are a beautiful light!
I remember at our 2017 work event Jill was accompanying Marcus and we were at the formal ballroom dressed to the NINES. It was such a great evening until I got so sick. I left the ballroom, made it to the lobby, and when I looked up and Jill was insistent on leaving the hotel ballroom to walk across the street (in a formal dress and falling snow) to the CVS to bring back ginger ale and saltine crackers. She insisted on making sure I had something so that I would feel better and not continue to be sick through the night. I truly appreciated her taking that time in the middle of a once in a lifetime event with Nikki Giovanni and Angela Bassett. She took time out just to make sure she could help someone else. Jill I hold deep appreciation for you… thank you for being so caring, so giving, so genuine. You are a beautiful light!
You and Me, Us Never Part
I am still in denial that my friend, my sister, is gone. I have a Jill shaped hole in my heart that will never be filled.
In remembrance of my dear friend, whom I’ll forever call “my Color Purple,” I find myself reflecting on how deeply she impacted my life, leaving colors that will never fade. Like the novel, where strength and resilience flow from one soul to another, her presence in my life was nothing short of transformative. She was my Celie, my Shug, and my Nettie—all wrapped into one. She was fierce, unbreakable, and infinitely wise. With her, there was laughter in the darkest moments, hope when the world felt unforgiving, and love that lifted and healed.
When I was lost or struggling, she was there, always, like a vivid color against the greyness. She could see into my heart, into the spaces I kept hidden from most, and she would bring light into every corner. Just as “The Color Purple” speaks to the beauty in the ordinary and the divinity in the overlooked, she taught me to see myself, to honor who I am, and to cherish the small, precious things in life. Her kindness was fierce, a rare kind of generosity that lifted everyone around her.
She showed me what resilience looked like and reminded me that it was okay to fall and stand again. In her own battles, she fought with courage and grace, teaching me that strength isn’t always about being unbreakable but about having the heart to continue. Her laughter, her stories, and even her tears are woven into my memories like precious threads in a tapestry. She knew how to carry pain yet share joy, making everyone around her feel seen, loved, and valued.
Now, without her, there’s an aching absence. But I know she wouldn’t want sorrow to linger too long. She would want me to find strength in remembering the colors she brought into my life, just as she taught me to see the world with gratitude. In the spirit of the novel, she showed me how to find God in the beauty of life, to see something divine in every breath, and in every person. She was my Color Purple—a force of nature, a gentle reminder of love, a beautiful soul who left a mark on my heart forever.
To her, my gratitude is boundless. To her memory, my love is endless. Rest well, dear sister, knowing you will always be cherished in every color you brought to my life.
Laughter
Dear sister Jill, the lasting memory for the Hudsons will be laughing with you and the L6 crew across several locations on our day out to the food hall and to ice cream later. Thank you for coming back from the hospital to give everyone in your life a beautiful extended time in your sunlight. #bootydemic #hhtn
"Above all, Jill loved and was loved by her people."
"Above all, Jill loved and was loved by her people." To say this is to capture the truest essence of Jill. In immeasurable ways both big and small, profound and mundane to love Jill and to be loved by her was going to leave an imprint. It might come in a moment of her big infectious laugh, a word of encouragement or empowerment, or seeing her ready to go to battle on your behalf. Jill didn't just say the words-she showed you her love. For her that is what love requires. I witnessed it. I felt it. I experienced it. I lived it. And I am forever better and grateful for it.
Good Morning
Jill was a unique "Can Do !“ Person
I called her a power woman because she would not shy away from challenges.
She would bake oatmeal choclate chip and bacon Cookies with a hint of red Pepper because she could !
Material things were second to Jill after experiences and adventures.
When she saw a friend or a family member in need for help she was there. Her assistance would sometimes include the offer to beat up the cause of a problem 😂
At ANY time of the day she would greet me and others with “Goooood Morning “ For the longest time I did not give this a lot of thought.
Now I believe she simply welcomed something fresh and new from that moment on.
So Jill, I am telling you”Good Morning” toward your heavenly journey and may you be loved there as you were here on earth.
I miss you
Beloved
Your brilliance and beauty and kindness and hilarity have brought me infinite joy over the years. Thank you for being exactly who you are. I miss you terribly, and will hold on to all of the ways your presence and spirit have brought me peace and ease and laughter. Your contribution to the world is immense. And your spirit and energy are forever present. I love you, dear Jill.
Eternal Love
I vowed. Til 8x8x8=4.
You are amazing in all the ways, shining with a light stronger than life itself.
I love you.
And because of you, I know what that means.
