Hattie Dinkins Hilton was born September 16, 1921 in Manning, South Carolina to the late Neason Dinkins and Blanch Bowman Dinkins. She departed this life on July 16, 2023, at the age of 101 years old. She was the eldest and yet the last living, of six children.

Hattie accepted the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior at the age of 13 during a revival at the church she attended, Mt. Calvary Fire Baptized Holiness Church.  She did not only meet the Lord there, but that is where she also met the love of her life, her Superman… Joe Hilton, Jr.  They courted about five years and later married on April 7, 1940. They did some traveling, as Joe was looking for work. They moved to Maryland, Florida, back to South Carolina and finally settled in Akron, in 1943. Amidst their travel, they had begun their family and God blessed them to have 9 children; Joe III, James, Johnnie, William, Dwight, Jeanette, Cynthia, Lawrence and Melvin.

Hattie has been cooking since she was 11 years old. Hattie dropped out of elementary school as she had to care for her siblings while her mother was employed, in order to feed and provide for her family. Hattie was pretty easy going at home, but at times could be very stubborn, feisty and display fiery passion for the things in life she loved or disliked.  She enjoyed crocheting, embroidery, secretarial duties, working word searches, puzzles, UpWords, and she mostly enjoyed watching Christian TV, but now and then she would tune in to Steve Harvey for “Family Feud”, and some of the older tv series like “In the Heat of the Night”, “Gunsmoke,” “Matlock” and “Andy Griffith,” just to name a few.  She also loved traveling and when we said “let’s”, she’d say “go.”

Mother Hilton worked as a volunteer with Summit County Human Services for more than 10 years, in the Friendly Visiting Program and received numerous certificates for dedicated service.

Hattie was a praying woman, a godly woman, a devoted and consistent tither all her life since childhood, a good wife, a great mother, a doting grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, a good cook and baker, a good listener, a friendly neighbor, a faithful friend and always dependable. At all times, she possessed a heart of gold and was tender and compassionate towards those in need.  She loved helping people, serving others, was given to hospitality and displayed the gift of giving throughout her life.  She had a zeal and passion for the Lord and was faithful in witnessing for Him. Mother also had a strong desire for everyone she knew to know Jesus, as Savior and Lord.

After their arrival in Akron, they joined St. Paul FBH Church, where Joe was ordained deacon under the late Elder U. B. Bobo.  Both Deacon Hilton and Mother Hilton served under multiple pastors, including: Elder W.H. Robinson, Bishop G.M. Evans, Rev. David Wilson, Rev. W.D. Davis, Rev. A.J. Lindsay, Rev. E. Dixon, Rev. R.L. Fields, Rev. Clarence Grant, Rev. Michael Porter, Rev. Mary Kidd, and currently Elder Richard Taylor. All pastors have reported that Deacon and Mother Hilton were faithful members of unsurpassed merit. Mother Hilton served in many capacities in the church for 60 plus years, until her health began to decline. She served as Sunday School Teacher, church secretary, treasurer, missionary board chair, pastor’s aid, usher, choir member, church mother and unofficially, as hostess and chef of the Hilton Inn of the Saints (ie.- her home).

Mother Hilton was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joe Hilton Jr; two sons, Joe Hilton III and Dwight Hilton; son-in-law, Wilson Gamble, daughter-in-law, Cardinal Hilton; two brothers, James Dinkins and Jack Dinkins (Barbara),and three sisters; Katherine Roebuck (Emmett Sr), Mattie Curry (Duke) and Evelyn Dinkins.

She leaves to cherish her memory – 5 sons, James Hilton (Jannie) of Zephvrhills, FL, Bishop John Hilton (Shirley) of St. Cloud, FL, William, aka “Bill” Hilton, Akron, OH, Lawrence Hilton, St. Cloud, FL, and Melvin Hilton, Akron OH; 2 daughters, Jeanette Gamble, Akron OH, and Cynthia Grant (Charles) of Fairlawn OH; and daughter-in-law, Dr. Gloria Hilton of Tampa FL; 18 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; two sisters-in law, Essie Hilton, Manning, SC and Nellie Dinkins-Jones, Akron, OH; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, loved ones and friends.