Obituary of Mae Belle Hill

Mae Belle Hill, 89, of Dowagiac, went home to glory on Monday, September 7, 2020, at Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac. She was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi to the late Andrew “Brock” Cosey Sr. and Cora Belle Cosey. Mae Belle lovingly also known as mama to many. If you were to interview those who knew Mama, you would hear time after time, “she was the strongest woman I’ve ever met.” She was a loving mother of twelve children, one girl, and eleven boys. Mama’s love for her family was fierce and she strived to always make each and every one of her children and grandchildren feel special. To this very day, each one probably thinks that they were her favorite and the truth is, they would all be correct. Not only did Mama love her biological family, but she also extended that love to numerous others, and affectionately, they called her Mama too. Widowed early in life, Mama courageously took on many roles. She was the protector, provider, counselor, teacher, and cheerleader. She was lovingly known as “the secret keeper” and confidant to all. She was our conscience and moral compass. With a look or a wave of her hand, she’d command the room, and everyone would get quiet and listen to her words. Mama was a very spiritual woman who loved to sing gospel songs out loud and when she “got happy, she’d throw her hands up in the air and praise God in a good old Southern Baptist way. Mama loved it when all of her children and grandchildren got together for special occasions. Mama loved to cook, and she maintained bragging rights for her homemade potato salad, mac and cheese, meatballs, and pound cakes. On the other hand, when it came to other folk’s cooking, Mama could be a very blunt food critic, especially to the younger generation who were brave enough to bring a dish for the big Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. Truth be told, she may have made a few folks cry a time or two but, with Mama’s love and guidance, many were able to eventually pass her taste tests. Mama would always say “I don’t have a lot of money to buy material things, but I do know how to cook, and I will always make sure that I prepare a good meal for the people I love.” Anyone that ever-visited Mama’s house never left with an empty stomach. Mama would often cheer from the sidelines as family formed teams for football games, dances, and plays. She never missed an opportunity to tell you how very much she loved you. She’d hold your hand, look you deeply in the eye, and miraculously, your problems wouldn’t seem so big and nothing would seem too impossible to achieve. Mama would always pray with and for you, laugh with you, or just sit in silence while you cried on her shoulder. She gave advice from the viewpoint of wisdom. She’d say “baby, keep a living and you’ll be able to see clearly by and by.” We’ll always remember the lessons Mama taught us and we’ll be forever grateful that she was ours. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Earnest Hill, Sr.; children, Ora Lucas, Anthony Scott Hill, and Walter Hill; sisters, Rosa L. Carter, Lucille Starks,; brothers, Andrew Cosey, Donny Cosey, Ronny Cosey, and Otis Cosey. Mae Belle was survived by her children; Ernest (Beverly) Hill of Dowagiac, Otis (Mary) Hill of Edwardsburg, Carl Hill of Dowagiac, Robert Hill of Niles, Marvin (Carla) Hill of Niles, Kenneth Hill of Dowagiac, Phillip (Michelle Moore) Hill of Osceola, Cedrick (Rachel) Hill of Mishawaka and Timothy Hill of Dowagiac, forty-four grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren; numerous great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Agnes Bacon, Dorothy Avance, Barbara Buckley, Debra Hawkins, Noveta Welch, Linda Cosey; brothers, Earl (Julia) Cosey, Erwin (Sarah) Cosey, Robert (Anna) Cosey, and Samuel Howard; along with an extended family too numerous to mention. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at Noon at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Niles with Pastor Bryant L. Bacon, Sr., officiating. A time of visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens in Niles. Memorial contributions in her memory may be directed to the Mt. Calvary Scholarship Fund.